The funeral of former revolutionary and politician Frank Aiken takes place in County Dublin.
Requiem Mass was held in Saint Mary's Church in Sandyford for the former Fianna Fáil Tánaiste, Frank Aiken, who passed away two days ago at the age of eighty five.
Born and raised in Camlough County Armagh in 1898, he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was the Sinn Féin organiser for south Armagh in 1917.
Elected a TD for Louth in 1923, he retained that position for the duration of his political career.
Appointed Minister for Defence in 1923 when Fianna Fáil came into power, he was former President Éamon De Valera's closest friend for almost half a century.
Frank Aiken also held the offices of Finance, and External Affairs from 1957 to 1969 and the dual role of Tánaiste from 1965 to 1969.
As a delegate to the United Nations (UN) during that time he promoted Ireland’s stance in favour of nuclear disarmament. His work with UN colleagues resulted in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which he was the first person invited to sign in 1968.
The chief celebrant was Bishop Joseph Whelan from Limerick and after Mass the coffin was borne from the church by men from the Second Garrison MP Company, Collins Barracks.
Frank Aiken’s sons Frank and Lochlann and daughter Ademar and their families were chief mourners. President Patrick Hillery and Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald were in attendance, as was Tánaiste Dick Spring, as was Fianna Fáil party leader Charles Haughey, former Taoiseach Jack Lynch and SDLP leader John Hume.
The Army No. 1 Band lead the funeral cortege from the church. Frank Aiken’s final resting place will be in Camlough County Armagh.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 May 1983. The reporter is Caroline Erskine.
