Thousands to pay last respects to broadcaster

THOUSANDS of mourners are expected to descend on the Dublin suburb of Clontarf today as Gerry Ryan is laid to rest in his local church.

Thousands more are expected to listen to the broadcaster’s funeral, held at St John the Baptist Church at 11.30am, when it is broadcast live on 2FM.

The ceremony will take place in the same church where he was married to wife Morah and where his mother’s funeral Mass was held three years ago.

Famous friends of the broadcaster are expected to attend, while the service itself will also be streamed live on the internet.

Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy confirmed yesterday that he will not be on air as usual this morning as he will be attending the funeral in Clontarf, while Pat Kenny will also be off air for the same reason. It is thought Joe Duffy is also likely to forego presenting Liveline to be at the funeral service, which will also be attended by RTÉ director general Cathal Goan and members of the Gerry Ryan Show team, as well as President Mary McAleese and Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan.

However, a spokesperson for the family dampened speculation regarding the possible attendance of Bono, while it has also been rumoured that Westlife may perform and that Fr Brian D’Arcy, one of a number of celebrants expected to perform the Mass, may deliver the homily.

It is understood Fr Michael Collins, who is based in Blackrock and who was interviewed by Gerry Ryan in the past, will be the chief celebrant.

Bono paid tribute to Gerry Ryan last week following his death on Friday, but U2 are engaged in a tour of America and the flight restrictions caused by the volcanic ash has meant he cannot attend.

“If they could have made it they would have, but they couldn’t,” the spokesperson said yesterday, adding that today’s service will be “very much a family funeral”.

Yesterday afternoon the Ryan family held a private wake at their home in Clontarf which lasted into the evening, and today’s burial ceremony at Dardistown cemetery, where Gerry Ryan’s father and mother are buried, will also be a private occasion.

It emerged that the coffin in which the broadcaster’s body was conveyed into his home in Clontarf carried a small plaque inscribed with the words ‘Open the pod bay doors, HAL’ – a line from the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Gardaí met to finalise plans for the funeral, which is expected to attract a huge crowd to the Gerry’s native Clontarf.

Gardaí said limited parking would be available in the immediate vicinity of the church and arrangements have been put in place to provide overflow parking at local nearby sports clubs.

Traffic is likely to be disrupted from 11am until approximately 1.30pm and diversions will be put in place at Castle Avenue and Seafield Road East, Clontarf for a short period of time.

Traffic congestion is also anticipated at Dardistown Cemetery, Collinstown Cross, Old Airport Road, and Cloghran following the funeral Mass.