Information for media on the Funeral Mass for Dermot Gallagher RIP

18 Jan 2017

  • “Christians make the grandest claim for baptism. Everyone who is baptised is created for no other reason than he or she might share in eternal life”
  • “His was a noble sense of service and duty, always committed to the ideals of public life, a conscientious consummate diplomat”

At 11.00am today, the Funeral Mass for the late Mr Dermot Gallagher RIP will be celebrated in Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, Co Meath.  Parish Priest Father Gerry Stuart will be the chief celebrant at the Mass which will be attended by family, friends, public representatives and officials, and by the local parish community.  Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh, will also attend this Mass.  

Father Stuart wishes to ask the media not to make contact with him in relation to this Funeral Mass, rather media queries should be directed to the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth.  Out of respect for the solemnity of the Mass, and to provide privacy and space to the families, media are asked not to use camera equipment within the church or on its grounds.  A public address system will be in place to relay the Mass to those attending outside of the church.  Burial will take place immediately after the Mass in the local cemetery.

In his homily, Father Stuart will reflect on Christian baptism:

“Our baptism may seem an unremarkable event, in essence the splashing of a little water and the uttering of a few words, yet we Christians make the grandest claim for baptism.  Everyone who is baptised is created for no other reason than he or she might share in eternal life, for my life is not a journey that ends in death but a journey towards life with God, that our destiny is not a grave but everlasting life.”

Father Stuart will speak of the deceased in the following terms:

“Dermot had a warm and engaging personality, and his natural affinity with people insulated him from any delusions of grandeur and people instinctively warmed to his company.

“His was a noble sense of service and duty, always committed to the ideals of public life, a conscientious consummate diplomat; intellectually gifted, who oozed tolerance, decency and gentleness; who could give wise and measured counsel.  He mixed his quiet leadership with wisdom and common sense.

“He could boil down complex issues to their essentials, and communicate them with absolute clarity.  He had the capacity of seeing the big picture while focusing on the smallest details.  I’m sure there are many here today who worked with him, particularly on the Good Friday Agreement, who could attest to that.

“He served eight Taoisigh and twelve Ministers.  To all he was unfailingly loyal.”

Dermot Gallagher is survived by his wife Maeve and children Fiona, Aoife and Ronan.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  

ENDS                             

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth 00353 (0) 1 505 3017 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444