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Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello

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RIP Gerry Ryan: The Life And Funeral In Pictures

RIP Gerry Ryan. The Irish broadcaster dies in Dublin. He had suffered a heart attack. Mourners gathered for his funeral at St John the Baptist Church, Clontarf. Joe Duffy, Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy, Westlife, Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello, Keith Duffy Alison Doody and President Mary McAleese were there.

The Irish do funerals well.

Shivering in the cold breeze blowing across the bay, corralled behind a crash barrier, they reconciled themselves to the news that entrance to the church was by invitation only. “But sure what of it? Gerry’s worth it”, said one.

Sam Smyth delivers this – and it’s mawkishness is almost tangible:

SPEAKING to some of them in Clontarf yesterday you could easily make the mistake of pigeon-holing Gerry Ryan fans as remarkably unremarkable. Most of those I spoke to were quietly considered and well-balanced, the sort of people who pay their taxes, mow their lawn, care for their kids. They get on with life even when the odds are stacked against them: people who make good neighbours.

In short, Gerry’s fans are the coping class.

Pictures:

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Presenter Ryan Tubridy stands with his partner Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, during the funeral of broadcaster Gerry Ryan at St.John the Baptist church in Clontarf ,Dublin.

Posted: 7th, May 2010 | In: Celebrities | Comment