A large crowd attended the funeral mass of Irish language revolutionary, Gearóíd Ó Cairealláin, who died last Friday following a short illness. He was 67.
The mass took place in St Peter's Cathedral in his native west Belfast.
He was a journalist, broadcaster, actor and a hard-working Gael.
He was one of the founders of the daily Irish language newspaper Lá, Ráidió Fáilte, Aising Ghéar, Cultúrlann McAdaim Ó Fiach, Coláite Feriste, the first Irish language secondary school in Northern Ireland and he was a former president of Conradh na Gaeilge.
In a statement, President Michael D Higgins said he was a major figure in the Irish language movement.
The congregation heard of that dedication to the language. Chief celebrant An tAthair Brian Ó Fearraigh said he was a man who stood his ground for Irish language rights in the North.
Gearóíd Ó Cairealláin’s remains, accompanied by family and friends, were taken to the old presbyterian church on the Falls Road for a final farewell, the place where he founded Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich.
He is survived by his wife Bríd, his mother Theresa and his sons, Ainle, Cairbre and Naoise.
Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who is a member of the Irish language rap trio Kneecap, paid tribute to his late father during a performance at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Saturday night.
On Instagram, the group said Gearóíd Ó Cairealláin was "an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many. We are heartbroken.
"Tonight's concert at the SSE arena will be the largest Irish language gig in the city’s history.
"Nothing would have made him prouder. Tonight is for him."
