Dingle pays final salute to the Boss
A special Mass was celebrated in St Mary’s church at the same time as the funeral Mass was being said in Donnycarney.
Dingle-born Canon Jackie McKenna said he was privileged to be asked to say the Mass on behalf of Dingle fishermen.
He told a congregation of several hundred people the Mass was a gesture of thanksgiving for all Mr Haughey done for Dingle.
“He helped bring about major improvements to the harbour area, pier and marina and people here are very grateful to him for that,” said Canon McKenna, retired parish priest of Castletownbere, Co Cork.
Canon McKenna recalled that he was chief celebrant at the Mass during the State funeral in Sneem, Co Kerry, for ex-President Cearbhaill Ó Dálaigh, in March 1978.
Dingle fisherman Paddy Flannery, who was in the congregation yesterday, said the fishermen wanted to pay their respects to a man who had always helped them.
“People in Dingle are very sad. He really loved the people and they loved him, too,” Mr Flannery said.
“He took a great interest in the fishing industry and felt very much at home with us in Dingle.”
Dingle fishermen were also represented at the Mass in Donnycarney by former Fianna Fáil Senator Tom Fitzgerald, a close friend of the ex-Taoiseach. Mr Fitzgerald, a fisherman, read a prayer of the faithful.
Meanwhile, the death occurred unexpectedly yesterday of Dingle fish processor Michael Ó Catháin, 83, a friend of Mr Haughey for many years.
Mr Ó Catháin, who travelled to Dublin to pay his respects to Mr Haughey prior to the funeral, recalled earlier this week how Mr Haughey first came to the Dingle area in the 1940s.
He was also involved in the purchase of the Blasket island of Innisvickillane from the Ó Dálaigh family on behalf of Mr Haughey.
