"Like the rich soil of Africa", the ministry of Father Declan O'Toole in Uganda was "immensely productive", the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, said at the funeral Mass last night for the priest in his home parish of Claran, in Co Galway.
Hundreds gathered in St Mary's Church in Claran, near Headford, for the Requiem Mass for the 31-year-old missionary, who was murdered in Uganda last week.
The Government was represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Noel Treacy, and among the large attendance expressing sympathy to Father O'Toole's parents and family were members of the Mill Hill Order, to which he belonged.
A delegation of Ugandan students based in Dublin, some of whom had studied with the Mill Hill order in Africa, had also travelled to north Galway.
Father O'Toole's remains were flown to his native Claran from Dublin airport by helicopter, after their arrival yesterday afternoon, and were received by the parish priest of Claran, Father Joe Moloney.
The homily at the ceremony was delivered by Fr O'Toole's close friend, Fr Declan Hartnett, who is now based with the Mill Hill Missionaries in Kilkenny but had worked with him in Kotido in Uganda.
Father O'Toole will be buried at Claran today at noon under a tree planted at the time of his ordination.
