Mourners attending the funeral of Irish UN peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney have been told he was a national hero and that his death has pierced the hearts of his family and the wider community.

The 24-year-old member of the Defence Forces was killed in an attack in Lebanon last week.

Hundreds of people lined the streets as the remains of Private Rooney were brought from his grandparents' home by hearse for funeral mass at the Church of the Holy Family in Dundalk just before 9am.

The coffin was draped in the tricolour and United Nations flag.

Following the funeral, the cortège stopped at Aiken Barracks in Co Louth, where Private Rooney had been stationed, before travelling on to Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal for the burial ceremony.

The coffin was then transferred from the hearse to a gun carriage for a procession to the cemetery at All Saints Catholic Church.

Private Rooney's coffin, carried by comrades from the 27th Battalion, was led to the graveside by a lone piper.

He was laid to rest with full military honours. A volley of 21 shots was fired by a firing party from the 21st Infantry Battalion and the last post played as his comrades gave him their final salute.

Mourners and members of the Defence Forces gathered as the coffin of Private Rooney was carried into the church

This morning, the short route from the home to the church was lined with mourners and members of the Defence Forces, who watched as the coffin was removed from the hearse and carried into the church.

Chief mourners were the family of Private Rooney, including his mother Natasha, his dad Paul, his grandparents Eugene and Rachel, his grandmother Ann McClusky, and his fiancée Holly.

President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Seán Clancy were all in attendance.

Above President Michael D Higgins, and below Lieutenant General Seán Clancy and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Some of Private Rooney's comrades from Lebanon and the family of injured UN peacekeeper Shane Kearney were among those attending the service.

Chief celebrant Fr Derek Ryan told the congregation: "When Seán was killed last week, it really did pierce the heart of his family and this close-hearted community, and even the town of Dundalk."

Addressing the family, he added: "No one in this community would ever have thought that your walk across Hoey's Lane to come to your beloved church would be such a difficult walk.

"And I know it wasn't easy to leave the house this morning to make the journey. It was not easy."

The Holy Family Church is where Private Rooney was baptised and where he had his first communion and confirmation.

Members of the Defence Forces salute as the coffin of Private Seán Rooney is carried into the church in Dundalk

Fr Ryan said the town of Dundalk is rooted in peacekeeping and it was not often spoken about but peacekeeping was a risky business and only the families of those who served abroad truly knew the risks involved.

He said he had spoken to Seán before his tour of duty and said he realised the adoration he had towards his grandparents and the best friend he was to his mother.

Fr Ryan described Private Rooney as immersed in family life, mature and wise beyond his years and said he had a unique bond with his mother Natasha.

A photograph of Private Seán Rooney in the hearse

'I promise my son I will stay strong'

Private Rooney's mother spoke emotionally at the end of the service about her wonderful, kind and loving son.

"There's no words strong enough, there's no words great enough to express the love I have for Seán," she said.

"I am so proud of Seán. Seán was placed in my arms when I was 16 years old and he gave me purpose."

She said having Seán made her want to do better in life, to go to study at third level and be a mother he could be proud of.

She said she would stay strong and take care of his sister Robyn who the service was told he had a special relationship with.

"In his life he gave me purpose," she said. "In his death I will find new purpose. I promise my son I will stay strong to take care of Robyn."

The congregation applauded as she described her son as a national hero.

"I'm more proud of the kind of loving person he was," she said.

"The most beautiful baby, gorgeous wee boy and handsome man you could meet.

"But it was only a fraction of what was inside. I love you son and I can't wait to be reunited with you in heaven."

'Three wonderful years with him'

Holly spoke of feeling extremely lucky to have experienced a personal love, to be in love with Seán and be loved by him

Fr Ryan read a statement from Private Rooney's fiancée Holly, who described Seán as her better half, who made her feel at ease, protected and safe.

She said he was a driven person who loved his job in the army, his running and who always looked after himself.

She said she was heartbroken that their life together had been cut short but that she felt extremely lucky to have experienced a personal love, to be in love with Seán and be loved by him.

"I feel absolutely honoured that I have been afforded these three wonderful years with him.

"Seán always encouraged me in my work and my studies and everything in life. He believed I could do anything, he made me feel I could do anything," she said.

Members of the 27th Infantry Battalion, in which Private Rooney served, were escorts and pallbearers when his coffin was taken from the church.

The cortège stopped at Aiken Barracks in Co Louth, where Private Rooney had been stationed, before travelling on to Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal where the cortège arrived for the burial ceremony.

The coffin was transferred from the hearse to a gun carriage for a procession to the cemetery at All Saints Catholic Church.

The procession was led by the Army Number One Band and included a bearer party from the 27th Infantry Battalion.

The coffin of Private Rooney is taken by gun carriage for burial in Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal

Other members of the battalion lined the route in reverse arms with heads bowed and rifles pointing downwards.

They were joined by local people along the road to pay tribute to Private Rooney and his family.

Private Rooney's heartbroken family walked behind the gun carriage with military mourners including members of his unit in Lebanon.

The coffin of Private Rooney, carried by comrades, was led to the graveside by a lone piper.

Private Seán Rooney's mother Natasha and other members of his family threw single white roses into his grave as the young soldier's funeral ceremony came to a close.

Before his body left Beirut on a flight home, Private Rooney was awarded a number of honours posthumously, including a peacekeeping medal from the UN and an appreciation medal from the Lebanese armed forces.

He was accompanied on the flight home by a number of colleagues from 121 Infantry Battalion, including his company commander, who are understood to have never left his side.

Additional reporting Eileen Magnier and PA