The remains of General Seán Mac Eoin are brought from Dublin to Ballinalee in County Longford for burial.
General Seán Mac Eoin was a former Fine Gael politician, government minister and soldier and one of the IRA leaders during the War of Independence.
Former President Éamon de Valera was among those who paid their respects before the coffin was carried from St Bricin's Military Hospital by a party of military police. Also in attendance were the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and his wife Vera, members of government and the Oireachtas including the opposition leader Jack Lynch TD.
The coffin, draped in a tri-colour with General Mac Eoin's cap and sword on top, was placed on a gun cart and escorted by officers from army headquarters. As the cortege moved off from St Bricin's on the journey to General Mac Eoin's birthplace at Ballinalee, the Army Number One Band played The Dead March.
The officer escort wore black armbands and had black ribbons on their swords.
Political colleagues and military comrades of the dead general followed the cortege. The Army, the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Gardaí were all represented.
General Mac Eoin's widow Alice lead the mourners at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Ballinalee. The general's remains will lie in the church over night before the funeral takes place.
IRA veterans from the Longford area turned out to pay tribute to the man who became known throughout Ireland as The Blacksmith from Ballinalee.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 July 1973. The reporter is Barry Linnane.
