Taoiseach salutes 'a Roscommon Gael'

Cheap Jerseys china Initially, from 1pm, there was a preponderance of Army uniforms in that queue, but as time went on there cheap jerseys was an increasing presence of saffron and wholesale jerseys blue jerseys the Roscommon county colours. Cheap Jerseys china wholesale jerseys Inside the church the former chief of wholesale jerseys staff Lieut Gen Earley lay in repose in an open coffin before the altar as his family stood to one side meeting sympathisers. wholesale jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys from china "We've lost a good Roscommon Gael," said Taoiseach Brian Cowen, after he emerged from the church where he had spoken to Lieut Gen Earley's widow, Mary, their children, his siblings and his mother Kitty. wholesale nfl jerseys from china "The numbers in attendance here all day indicate all the people he touched in his life," the Taoiseach said. The Taoiseach was accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Sen McCann. "Dermot was very much an iconic figure... an inspirational style of leader. cheap nfl jerseys He had such great humility for such a tremendous figure. He has left the Defence Forces in a very healthy state." wholesale nfl jerseys Pte Jimmy Mee wholesale jerseys served with Lieut Gen Earley in Lebanon as chef and signalman. Lieut Gen Earley's death was "a devastating blow to the Army". "He was a big man in the Army and a big man on the football field. He will never be forgotten," he said. wholesale nfl jerseys Another Roscommon football star, John O'Gara, who played wholesale jerseys with Dermot cheap nfl jerseys Earley from 1972 to 1981, recalled "the great wholesale jerseys encouragement" he received from Gen Earley who was "always a role model for younger lads". Cheap Jerseys from china Fr Tommy Towey, parish priest of Ballisodare, Co Sligo, was a year behind Dermot Earley in St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen. Even then his leadership qualities stood out, "not just in football but also in basketball and athletics generally". Cheap Jerseys from china wholesale jerseys Eddie McDonnell from Frenchpark who played club football at Glavey's in Roscommon with Dermot Earley recalled him as "the nicest fella. wholesale jerseys Cheap Jerseys china He said Dermot Earley jnr, a member of the Kildare team, "is following in his footsteps" and planned to play for Kildare this evening after his father's burial. Cheap Jerseys china Cheap Jerseys from china "That's the sort of character they have," said McGeeney. Cheap Jerseys from china The parish priest of Newbridge, Fr Joe McDermott, received the remains at St Conleth's church last night. He welcomed "all who have travelled from the four corners of Ireland to share this sad moment with Dermot's family". Cheap Jerseys from china The remains were carried by hearse to St Conleth's through the streets of Newbridge last night. They were escorted by members of Kildare GAA as some of the Earley family walked behind. Cheap Jerseys from china A guard of honour of Roscommon GAA supporters lined both sides of the bridge over the Liffey as the cheap nfl jerseys cortege passed through. Nearer the church a guard of honour from the local Sarsfields GAA club lined both sides of the street. cheap nfl jerseys Present at the removal service were President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin, the Taoiseach's ADC Commdt Mick Treacy, the Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, Fine Gael TDs Jimmy Deenihan and Frank Feighan, GAA president Christy Cooney and Senator Frances Fitzgerald cheap nfl jerseys.