List of Irish state funerals


State funerals in Ireland have taken place on the following occasions since 1922.

List

DateRecipientRoles or achievements honouredNotesVenueDate of death
21 June 2020Colm HorkanDetective Garda killed on dutyLimited funeral due to Covid-19 RestrictionsSt James Church, Charlestown17 June 2020
15 Oct 2015Tony GoldenGarda killed on duty Church of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Blackrock, County Louth11 Oct 2015
18 Sep 2015Thomas KentIrish revolutionary period: died while interned after the Easter Rising.Reinterment of remains located in 2014 at the site of former Cork County Gaol.St Nicholas' Church, Castlelyons, County Cork9 May 1916
25 Aug 2014Albert ReynoldsTaoiseachChurch of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin21 Aug 2014
30 Jan 2013Adrian DonohoeGarda killed on duty Redemptorist Church, Dundalk, County Louth25 Jan 2013
22 May 2011Garret FitzGeraldTaoiseachChurch of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin19 May 2011
13 Apr 2009Robbie McCallionGarda killed on duty Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Swinford, County Mayo7 Apr 2009
16 Apr 2008Patrick HilleryPresident of IrelandSt Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin12 Apr 2008
16 Jun 2006Charles HaugheyTaoiseachCost estimated at €530,000 including policing.Church of Our Lady of Consolation, Donnycarney, Dublin13 Jun 2006
14 Oct 2001Kevin BarryIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Thomas BryanIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Patrick DoyleIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Frank FloodIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Edmond FoleyIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Patrick MaherIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Patrick MoranIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Bernard RyanIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Thomas TraynorIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
14 Oct 2001Thomas WhelanIrish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin1920–1921
23 Oct 1999Jack LynchTaoiseachThe eulogy was by Des O'Malley of the Progressive Democrats rather than Lynch's Fianna Fáil partyNorth Cathedral, Cork20 Oct 1999
11 Aug 1997John LynchIrish Army sergeant killed in a helicopter crash on UNIFIL mission in LebanonCill Mhuire Church, Ballymanny, Newbridge, County Kildare1997
10 Jun 1996Jerry McCabeGarda killed on duty escorting an An Post van ambushed at Adare, County Limerick by Provisional IRA membersChurch of the Holy Rosary, Limerick7 Jun 1996
25 May 1995Paul ReidGarda killed on duty with the United Nations Protection Force in the Bosnian War. His car crashed while under sniper fire in Sarajevo.St Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny, County Donegal18 May 1995
13 Apr 1983Patrick Noel McLoughlinGarda murdered at homeChurch of SS Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, County Meath11 Apr 1983
23 Mar 1978Cearbhall Ó DálaighPresident of IrelandSt Michael's Church, Sneem, County Kerry21 Mar 1978
2 Sep 1975Éamon de ValeraPresident of Ireland, Taoiseach and Irish revolutionary period leaderThere were complaints that Fianna Fáil TDs encroached at the graveside, obstructing Fine Gael and Labour ministers and foreign dignitaries.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin29 Aug 1975
21 Nov 1974Erskine H. ChildersPresident of Ireland St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin17 Nov 1974
3 Oct 1972Kathleen ClarkeLord Mayor of Dublin; Irish revolutionary period: widow of Easter Rising leader Tom Clarke and member of the republican DáilBrendan Corish complained that as a member of the Council of State he ought to have been driven to the funeral.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin29 Sep 1972
13 May 1971Seán LemassTaoiseach; Irish revolutionary period: IRA leaderChurch of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown, Dublin11 May 1971
28 Sep 1970James RyanMinister; Irish revolutionary period: IRA leader and member of the republican DáilCounty Wicklow25 Sep 1970
12 Mar 1968Donogh O'MalleyMinister for Education St John's Cathedral, Limerick10 Mar 1968
10 Nov 1968Margaret Mary PearseSenator ; Irish revolutionary period: sister of Easter Rising leader Patrick Pearse and member of the republican DáilChurch of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin7 Nov 1968
29 Jan 1968Alfred Chester BeattyCulture: Founder of the Chester Beatty LibrarySt Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin19 Jan 1968
26 Nov 1966Seán T. O'KellyPresident of IrelandSt Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin23 Nov 1966
18 Nov 1965W. T. CosgravePresident of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State.His son Liam Cosgrave insisted that the family rather than the state should pay the funeral expenses.Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin16 Nov 1965
1 Mar 1965Roger CasementIrish revolutionary period: Easter Rising leader.Reinterment from Pentonville Prison.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin3 Aug 1916
2 Nov 1963Domhnall Ua BuachallaGovernor-General of the Irish Free StateChurch of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin30 Oct 1963
24 Jan 1963Diplomatic corps: West German ambassador to Ireland St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin18 Jan 1963
13 Aug 1961John MoorePresident of the Government of the Province of Connacht.Reinterment from an untended grave in Ballygunner Temple, Waterford, rediscovered in 1960.Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, County Mayo6 Dec 1799
22 Nov 1960Niemba ambush victimsIrish Army: Ten soldiers killed in the United Nations Operation in the Congo. Eight were killed by Luba militiamen on 8 November: Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson; Sergeant Hugh Gaynor; Corporals Peter Kelly and Liam Dougan; Privates Matthew Farrell, Michael McGuinn, and Gerard Killeen; and Trooper Thomas Fennell. The ninth, Private Patrick Davis, was shot accidentally during the recovery mission. The tenth, Trooper Anthony Browne, was at the time of the state funeral presumed to have been killed in the ambush. In November 1962 his body was located where he had been killed days after and miles from the original ambush. He received a military burial in Glasnevin.The coffins were kept at Baldonnel Aerodrome during the funeral mass. Mourners travelled from the Pro-Cathedral to the aerodrome and then accompanied the coffins to Glasnevin Cemetery.St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin8 Nov 1960
18 Nov 1957Seán MoylanSenator ; Minister; Irish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army officerChurch of St. Anthony, Clontarf, Dublin16 Nov 1957
27 Mar 1957Ernie O'MalleyIrish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army officerChurch of the Assumption, Howth, Dublin25 Mar 1957
14 July 1949Douglas HydePresident of IrelandIrish Catholic bishops said Catholic participation in Protestant ceremonies was a reserved sin, omitting the canon law exception for minimal participation as a matter of civic courtesy. Most Catholics remained outside the Church of Ireland cathedral during the religious service, including all members of the cabinet except Noël Browne. Austin Clarke's poem "Death of an Irish President" satirises this.St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin12 Jul 1949
30 Aug 1948Paschal RobinsonDiplomatic corps: Papal Nuncio to Ireland Robinson requested a simple funeral so some elements of a state funeral were omittedSt Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin27 Aug 1948
23 Jan 1948Sean GantlyGarda Special Branch chief superintendent shot accidentally by a colleague during a manhunt for armed robbersChurch of the Immaculate Conception, Dublin21 Jan 1948
2 Dec 1944Eoin O'DuffyGarda Commissioner; Irish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army chief of staffSt Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin30 Nov 1944
29 Jan 1938Lillie ConnollyIrish revolutionary period: Widow of Easter Rising leader James ConnollyMount Argus Church, Harold's Cross, Dublin22 Jan 1938
October 1934Patrick S. DinneenCulture: Gaelic revival author and lexicographerSaint Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin29 Sep 1934
16 Jun 1929John DevoyFenian Rising of 1867; Irish revolutionary period: leader in the United StatesA nonpartisan committee was formed to organise his repatriation and burial in Glasnevin, but the anti-Treaty members withdrew. The coffin was draped with both the Irish and American flags.29 Sep 1928
13 Jul 1927Kevin O'HigginsVice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin10 Jul 1927
17 Nov 1926James FitzsimonsGardaí killed on duty during simultaneous IRA raids on twelve Garda stationsA joint funeral; the coffins arrived separately at Kingsbridge Station and proceeded in cortege to Glasnevin Cemetery, where the ceremonies took place, W. T. Cosgrave making an oration. Fitzsimons was buried in Glasnevin, Ward in Nobber, County Meath.Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin14 Nov 1926
17 Nov 1926Hugh WardGardaí killed on duty during simultaneous IRA raids on twelve Garda stationsA joint funeral; the coffins arrived separately at Kingsbridge Station and proceeded in cortege to Glasnevin Cemetery, where the ceremonies took place, W. T. Cosgrave making an oration. Fitzsimons was buried in Glasnevin, Ward in Nobber, County Meath.Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin14 Nov 1926
28 Aug 1922Michael CollinsIrish revolutionary period: Chairman of the Provisional Government St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin22 Aug 1922
16 Aug 1922Arthur GriffithIrish revolutionary period: simultaneously President of the Irish Republic and member of the Provisional Government St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin12 Aug 1922

State funerals declined

Former Taoisigh John A. Costello and Liam Cosgrave did not receive state funerals, at the request of their respective families.. Similarly, a 1948 press release at the repatriation by LÉ Macha of the remains of W. B. Yeats, who had died in France in 1939, stated "The Government was, of course, desirous to accord full State honours in connection with the funeral, but considered it proper to respect the wishes of the poet’s relatives."

Protocol

is only organised for a sitting taoiseach or president.
The church service may feature a High Mass, usually attended by past and present presidents, taoisigh and senior members of the Irish judiciary.
About 300 members of the Defence Forces provide a guard of honour, a gun-carriage carries the coffin, which is draped with the tricolour, and Army Buglers play the Last Post. There is a gun-salute.

Footnotes

Citations