Muhammad Ali's funeral on Friday promises to be a memorable event, with former presidents, heads of state, movie and sports stars among the thousands expected to bid farewell to an icon whose appeal went far beyond the boxing ring.
The past few days since his sad passing have served to remind us of the qualities that made him great.
It was not just his memorable boxing career which was testament to a formidable combination of courage, strength, skill, intelligence and showmanship.
Ali also used his fame and success to wider effect, speaking out on the Vietnam war, promoting the Muslim faith and championing civil rights and humanitarian causes, despite his debilitating illness.
He will be warmly remembered in Ireland, where he visited his ancestral home in Ennis, Co Clare and where he made a lasting impact at the 2003 Special Olympics in Dublin.
And to many of Ireland's boxers, he was the ultimate fighter, a hero, an icon and an inspiration.
