Ahern to give graveside oration at State funeral

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will deliver the graveside oration at the State funeral of Mr Haughey in Dublin on Friday.

Donnycarney, the area of Dublin’s northside where Mr Haughey grew up and which he subsequently represented as a politician, will be central to the events.

Mr Haughey will repose at his home in Abbeville until Thursday morning, when his body will be removed to the mortuary chapel in the Church of Our Lady Consolation in Donnycarney. The removal, beginning at 11am, will be private.

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to pay their respects between 11.30am and 4pm, when they can file past the open coffin. Cameras will not be allowed.

At 5pm, Mr Haughey will be brought from the mortuary chapel to the main entrance of the church, where he will be formally received and taken to the high altar.

Requiem Mass for Mr Haughey will begin on Friday at noon.

Seating will be reserved at the church services for Mr Haughey’s family, relatives and friends, for the President, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Taoiseach, Government, Council of State, diplomatic corps, Dáil and Seanad members, MEPs, local authority, judiciary, and Church figures, as well as representatives of the Garda, Defence Forces, civil services and national organisations.

The Government press office said that “to the extent possible, public seating will also be available in the church”, although this is dependent on the size of the list of attending dignitaries.

However, the service will be relayed to the public via two large screens, one outside the church and the second in the adjacent community hall, Le Chéile.

At the end of the service, the funeral cortege will form outside the church and, escorted by a marching military battalion and band, will proceed via the Malahide Road to Artane Roundabout, where the military escort will fall out.

The cortege will continue via Tonlegee Road and onto St Fintan’s Cemetery in Sutton.

Members of the Defence Forces will line the approach to the cemetery. Proceeded by a military band, Mr Haughey will be brought to graveside.

After the prayers, Mr Ahern will deliver the graveside oration and military honours will be rendered.

Books of condolence have been opened at the church, Dublin Castle, the Mansion House, Dublin City Hall and Government Buildings, and will remain so until Friday evening.

Flags will be flown at half-mast on all Government buildings until after the funeral.