State funeral for John Bruton on Saturday

Former Taoiseach to be laid to rest in Dunboyne

Funeral details have been announced for former Taoiseach John Bruton, who died yesterday morning.

His State funeral will take place in Dunboyne on Saturday morning.

A removal takes place to Ss Peter and Paul’s Church, Dunboyne on Friday evening at 7pm. The Funeral Mass is on Saturday morning at 11am, followed by burial in Rooske Cemetery, Dunboyne.

Mr Bruton, TD for Meath from 1969 to 2004, died aged 76 after a long illness, at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin. He is survived by his wife, Finola, son Matthew, daughters Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth, grandchildren Ophelia, Hugo, Oliver and Robin, sons-in-law Maxence and Eibi; brother, Richard, and sister, Mary, nieces and nephews, extended family, friends and colleagues.

Paying tribute to his predecessor as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said that John Bruton was one of the reasons he became involved in politics and joined Fine Gael.

"He was always encouraging and supportive on a personal level, from my time in Young Fine Gael to my time as Taoiseach," Mr Varadkar said. " We kept in touch and his knowledge and experience were particularly helpful during Brexit and during coalition negotiations.

"We last spoke just before Christmas when he was unable to attend the Council of State due to his illness. I spoke to his wife Finola and brother Richard this morning to pass on my condolences," Mr Varadkar said yesterday.

"John was doer and a philosopher. He was passionately pro-European in Government and in Opposition, and was well-liked and respected among colleagues in Europe and in the European People’s Party in which he served as Vice-President. He knew that Ireland’s place and destiny was at the heart of Europe and made the case for it eloquently.

"On the North, he strongly opposed violence as a means to advance political objectives and believed in unity through consent. He made a particular effort to reach out to the Unionist community. He advocated a new patriotism and opposed narrow nationalism. While these views are now held by the majority of people, that was not always the case and he was willing to lead, even when it meant going against the grain.

Leo Varadkar said that John Bruton believed in an enterprise economy and responsible management of the public finances.

"I am convinced that the decisions made by the ‘Rainbow Government' which he led from 1994 to 1997, comprising Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left, laid the foundation for much of the economic prosperity we have enjoyed since.

"A believer in individual rights and responsibilities and social justice, John was born from the Christian Democratic tradition of European and Irish politics. He was conservative but always compassionate and caring. He played a crucial role in the Divorce Referendum of 1995 in convincing middle-ground voters to vote Yes in what was a very tight referendum. Above all, I believe John Bruton possessed real dignity and imbued compassion and patriotism. The whole Fine Gael family mourns his loss, and he will always be remembered for his service to our Party and to the Irish State."

The former parish priest of Dunboyne, and current Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, said it was with profound sadness that he learned of the death of John Bruton.

"Throughout his life and long political career, John was dedicated to a truly democratic Ireland and a truly democratic Europe," he said.

" As a committed politician and dedicated leader John Bruton embodied some of the finest qualities of political leadership, qualities without which offices of State risk losing necessary commitment to, and work for, the common good. A man deep conviction and profound Christian faith, John realised from an early age that the future of Ireland and the future of Europe were inseparable.

"His work, both as government minister and Taoiseach in a very different Ireland, and at a difficult time in our history - as well as his work in the European Union - bore witness to what the recently deceased Jacques Delors frequently called Europe’s soul: a shared sense of values and grounded in a spirituality. Every people and every country need contact with its heart and its soul. In John Bruton we had someone who was a sure guide on that journey.

"I express sympathy to his wife, Finola, his son, Matthew, his daughters, Emily, Juliana, and Mary-Elizabeth, to his brother, Richard, and sister, Mary."