Éamon de Valera was remembered 50 years to the day after he died with a ceremony in Glasnevin Cemetery on Friday.
A memorial Mass was held for the man who founded Fianna Fáil 100 years ago next year, and served as taoiseach for 21 years and president for 14 years.
The Mass was mostly in Irish, reflecting his regard for the language.
Among those attending were Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers, the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister of State Niamh Smyth, presidential hopeful Billy Kelleher and various other luminaries of the party past and present.
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There was standing room only in the small chapel in Glasnevin. Afterwards the party paid respects at de Valera’s modest grave in the shadow of the round tower in Glasnevin.
De Valera is not buried in the republican plot at Glasnevin Cemetery, which is nearby. That decision was taken in light of a family tragedy that was recounted by his grandson, former minister Éamon Ó Cuív.
The former TD reminded those present that there were strict instructions that there be no graveside oration at his funeral although de Valera himself had given many graveside orations, including for Countess Markievicz and Sir Roger Casement when his remains were returned to Glasnevin in 1965.
[ Are we still living in De Valera’s Ireland?Opens in new window ]
In 1936 de Valera’s 20-year-old son Brian was killed in a freak accident while riding a horse in the Phoenix Park. De Valera and his wife Sinéad were devastated by the tragedy.
De Valera purchased a family grave and Brian was the first person interred there. The next burial there was not until 1975, when de Valera’s wife predeceased him. The statesman himself died on August 29th, 1975, and was buried in the family plot rather than alongside other republicans.
The simple stone cross over the grave is how de Valera would have wanted it, Ó Cuív said.
O’Cuiv also reminded those present that the last person interred in the republican plot was Ahern’s mother Julia in 1998. She was buried there not because she was the mother of the then taoiseach but because of her involvement in Cumann na mBán.
A rendition of The Foggy Dew by Aidan Gavin called to mind de Valera’s involvement in the Easter Rising. Chambers laid a wreath on behalf of Fianna Fáil. The ceremony finished with Amhrán na bhFiann.
