Sir C. G. Duffy's Funeral

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 30 April 1903, Page 6

Sir C. G. Duffy's Funeral

Amidst manifestations of most profound grief and respect the remains of the late Sir Charles Gayan Duffy were- on Sunday, March 8, consigned to their last rest-inff-place in Glasnevin cemetery. Dublin under the shadow of the round tower which marks the place of interment of Daniel O'Connell. The country sent up. its thousands, and Dublin poured forth its tens of thousands to render the last tribute of homage and reverence to the remains of the last of the '48 patriots Seldom was a more solemn sight witnessed in the capital that has been the scene of so many striking demonstrations in the past. . THe remains had lain in state in the Marlborough street Pro-Cathedral from Friday morning, when Solemn Requiem High Mass was said in the presence of the Archbishop and a large assemblage of priests and prominent men of all sections. Although half-past one o'clock was fixed as the hour at which

The Procession

was to leave Stephen's Green, such was the mass of mourners, so great were the constituent elements of| the contingents, that it was long after that time when a move onward was made. Representative in a very great degree may be said to have been. the gathering. North, fc>outh, iirast, and West of Ireland formed worthy representation, and when the great body moved on towards Glasnevin the route was practically packed with people who paid at least the tribute of their sympathy. A more striking picture it would have "been absolutely impossible to have found than when the hearse containing the remains, and which was literally covered with wreaths of flowers, and the legend ' '48,' reached the foot of Grafton street, and came into the scene of the great and famous gathering of the Volunteers. The picture was Indeed as historical as its more military prototype. All along Dame street the thoroughfares were lined, and the line of the funeral was bordered by thickly massed crowds of citizens. From the mighty concourse at Stephen's Green to the multitude at the graveyard at Glasnevin no break took place in the continuous mass of people. And, furthermore, every place of vantageroofs of houses, hoardings, steps, and balconies — was packed.

The procession was headed by the various Catholic boys' brigades and associations in the city, numbering over 2000, after which came the carriage of his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin. The hearse, which was covered with beautiful wreaths, followed, while after this was a car that contained a splendid floral decoration, the tribute of the Memorial Committee. The wreaths which were very numerous and beautiful, were frojn Mrs. Emma Fuller, Madame de Mello, Nice ; Mr. and Mrs. J. Wiseman, M. De Giovanni, Nice ; the Emmet United Irish League, Derry ; the Irish Literary Society, London ; the National Literary Society, Ireland ; Mr. and Mrs. Clement Shorter, the Monaghan men resident in Belfast, the St. Macartan branch National Forresters, Monaghan ; and the Memorial Committee. After the chief mourners' carriages, in which sat the Messrs. Duffy and the Misses Duffy, came immediately the Monaghan Band and the Monaghan contingent, which was very large and most representative. Then came the representatives of various trade and benefit Societies, public bodies, etc. The students of the Catholic University, numbering about 250, were headed by the Rev T. A. Finlay, S. J., Dr Coffey, Dr H. Ryan, Professor Cadic, Professor H. McNeill, and Mr F. J. O. Skeffington. The representatives of the Irish Parliamentary Party present were :—: — Sir Thomas Esmonde, M.P., Messrs. J. F. X. O'Brien, M.P., J. P. Hayden, M.P., J. J. Clancy, M.P., and D. J. Cogan, M.P. The Town Clerk, Mace-Bearer, SwordBearer, and City Marshall (Mr. Parnell) occupied the first of the civic carriages ; next came the State coach in which the Lord MayQr, rode. A large representation of the Dublin Corporation, wearing their robes followed in their carriages ; then the Drogheda and Cork Corporation were also well representated, and a long line of private carriages closed the procession.

It was twenty-five minutes past four when the head of the procession reached the entrance gate of

The Cemetery.

For at least two hours previous to that time large numbers had awaited its arrival in the vicinity, and as the afternoon advanced their numbers were gradually augmented. The weather remained beautifully bright, though the temperature was chilly. The plot for the grave was presented free by the Cemeteries Committee. A few yards distant rises the beautiful Celtic Cross erected to the memory of John Blake Dillon, Duffy's associate In the '48 movement. In the vicinity is the last resting-place of James Stephens/ the leader of a later struggle for National freedom, while close beside is the Manchester Martyrs' Cenotaph. Not far off lie the remains of other Ivishmen prominently identified with the Irish popular movement, including Tom Steele, Sir John Gray, and A. M. Sullivan. The hearse was followed into the cemetery grounds by two of the mourning coaches containing the relatives of the deceased statesman and some friends. The vast body of the roaches remained outside, the occupants alighting and entering the cemetery on foot. The various contingents followed. The coffin having been borne into the chapel, the prayers for the dead were recited by the Rev. F. J. Coffey, the chaplain, the clergy andj laity present adding their supplications with fervor. The brief ceremony over, the cOffiin was removed from the chapel and borne towards the grave. The clergy, the relar tives of the deceased, the Lord Mayor and members of tho Corporation, and a few prominent men were allowed within the barrier. Arrived at the grave the coffin was placed on the trestles. Father Coffey then recited the burial service, the clergymen present responding, while the vast multitude stood around in an attitude of reverence, the men with heads uncovered. The coffin was then gently lowered into the grave, and the last prayers were recited by the Very Rev. Dean Hegarty, of Melbourne. The wreaths were placed on the newly-formed mound, and the vast concourse of mourners gradually melted away, leaving the veteran patriot sleeping the last long sleep close by the honored dead who, like him, loved Ireland and sought to set her free.

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