The funeral of former RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman has taken place in Co Sligo.
The broadcaster and author died on Tuesday at the age of 68. He retired from RTÉ in April 2021 after a career spanning 40 years.
The funeral mass took place at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, near Strandhill.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was in attendance along with former Sinn Féin and DUP leaders Gerry Adams and Arlene Foster.
Speaking on the way into the church, Mr Adams said Tommie Gorman loved the peace process and built "gentle" bridges between both sides of the conflict.
"He got frustrated and of course, sometimes he drove many Republicans mad but he just loved the way the process could move from conflict to killing to relative peace and he helped get both sides talking," he said.
Mr Adams said he and Ms Foster both got to know Tommie Gorman well without affecting his journalistic integrity. He also praised the way he dealt with his cancer diagnosis in his 30s and went on to help so many more achieve the same.
Read more: One of 'life's achievers' - Tommie Gorman remembered
Taoiseach Simon Harris said Tommie Gorman was held in high regard right across the political spectrum.
"People with diametrically opposed views saw the value, the decency in Tommie Gorman and I think the fact that they're all here today to acknowledge that speaks volumes," he said.
Director General of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst along with staff past and present were also in attendance.
The funeral cortege first made a farewell journey to The Showgrounds, the home of Mr Gorman's beloved Sligo Rovers.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
His wife Ceara, son Joe and daughter Moya accompanied the hearse and the club formed a guard of honour and joined the cortege to walk to the church.
"Tommie suffered, he was ill for a long time as we know, he suffered a lot, but he never, and he did not allow it be his identity," Fr Christopher McCrann told mourners.
Tommie Gorman sang in choirs and his children are accomplished musicians. His wife Ceara Roche shared the gift of her own singing voice as she joined her sisters in a musical tribute.
It was a packed church and Tommie's son Joe said his father would be pleased
He said: "Tommie loved funerals. I can imagine him coming home saying "Jeez it was full to the rafters."
He said Tommie knew he wasn’t better thank anybody else.
"He was an ordinary man like the Christy Moore song goes. He treated people the same whether they were a prime minister or a president. He engaged with people and had great humanity," he added.
Following the funeral mass, Tommie Gorman was buried nearby at Kilmacowen Cemetery.
