Former taoiseach John Bruton has been described as a visionary politician and statesman who sowed the seeds for peace.
The tribute was paid during his removal at his local church in Dunboyne in Co Meath this evening ahead of his State funeral tomorrow.
The 76-year-old died on Tuesday morning following a long illness.
Mr Bruton's remains were received at Saints Peter's and Paul's Church on Main Street in Dunboyne for the service earlier this evening.
His brother, former minister Richard Bruton, was among those to carry the coffin into the church.
His family and hundreds of other mourners also attended the service.
Parish priest Father Patrick O'Connor led the proceedings with a tribute to the former taoiseach.
He described Mr Bruton as a "visionary" and a man committed to peace.
"No matter what position John found himself, he gave it his all, as a TD, as a minister, as taoiseach.
"He was a great statesman, his vision for the European Union was far seeing.
"He certainly was a great ambassador for the EU. Not only for the EU, but also for Ireland.
"John Bruton, a politician, a minister, taoiseach, ambassador, all great achievements for the Dunboyne man who never lost touch with his roots," Fr O'Connor said.
Among those who attended the removal were EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Culture Catherine Martin and her husband Francis Noel Duffy, a Green Party TD, and Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne were also in attendance.
Mr Bruton was taoiseach from 1994 to 1997 when he led the rainbow coalition government of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left.
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He was leader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 31 January 2001.
He was re-elected to the Dáil in May 2002 and resigned his seat on 31 October, 2004, and was appointed as the EU Ambassador to the United States the following month.
Mr Bruton was widely credited with playing an important part in Northern Ireland's peace process in the years leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of sectarian conflict.
During his tenure he also steered through a referendum that paved the way for the legalisation of divorce.
Mr Bruton is survived by his wife Fionala, his children Matthew, Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth, and his grandchildren.
Additional reporting PA
