Schoolchildren lined the streets of Letterkenny, Co Donegal for the funeral of their lollipop man, who died after being hit by a car in the early hours of St Patrick's Day.
Anthony Gallagher was brought to his funeral mass at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny this morning.
Anthony, who was in his 60s, died at Letterkenny General Hospital on Monday from his injuries.
His brother Martin, also in his 60s, was first taken to the same hospital but then transferred by rescue helicopter to Galway University Hospital due to the extent of his injuries.
He has undergone extensive surgery but is conscious and was due to watch his late brother's funeral online from his hospital bed.
The brothers were returning home from a night out in a local bar and were returning to the home they shared at Charlie Daly Terrace in Letterkenny when the incident happened just before 3am.
The scene of the collision is around 50 metres from were Anthony Gallagher worked as a lollipop man for Donegal County Council.
The teenage driver of the car was arrested and questioned at Letterkenny Garda Station before being released without charge, with a file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The community also cancelled their local St Patrick's Day parade as a mark of respect to the well-known local resident.
His funeral mass heard Mr Gallagher was a permanent fixture on weekdays at the bottom of the Convent Road each morning as children made their way to local schools.
Read more: Large crowd attend Letterkenny vigil after fatal crash
"Every weekday morning, this was his habit: He rose to do his bit for the people of Letterkenny," Fr Anthony Hartnett said.
Four school crossing guards, holding their lollipop signs, flanked the coffin as it was brought into the cathedral.
On the approach to St Eunan's Cathedral, children from Scoil Cholmcille, St Eunan's College and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál formed a solemn guard of honour.
Mr Gallagher’s lollipop sign was placed alongside the coffin during the funeral Mass.
An Arsenal jersey, representing his love of sport and a Letterkenny heritage magazine, reflecting his pride in being a man from Letterkenny, were also brought forward to the altar.
'Salt of the earth'
"Others were just happy to see Anthony coming," Fr Hartnett said.
"His virtue goes deeper still, known only to a select few, but the man we bury today devoted much of his time, energy and his pockets to his family, especially to his late mother Brigid - whose passing Anthony never forgot - and his late aunt Rosaleen."
Mr Gallagher was recalled as being "the salt of the earth" and a man who "made room in his heart for others".
Prayers were also offered for Martin’s recovery from serious injuries sustained in the incident.
Fr Hartnett, on behalf of the bereaved family, thanked those who had "extended the hand of friendship" since the tragedy and prayed for the emergency services, gardaí and hospital staff who assisted.
After the funeral mass, the cortege stopped briefly at the spot where Anthony died before traveling on to his final resting place at Conwal Cemetery on the outskirts of the town.
