THE great branches of state, military, political and church, came together yesterday in Co Donegal in homage to Private Seán Rooney.
Private Rooney (24) was shot dead while serving with the Irish army’s UN peace keeping corps in Lebanon last week. He and his fiancé Holly McConnellogue were to marry next August.
From a family with strong military traditions, Private Rooney was born in Dundalk but moved to live in Newtowncunningham when he was 12. His funeral yesterday united the two towns with his Requiem Mass celebrated in Dundalk and his burial in Newtowncunningham.
President Michael D Higgins was joined by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, senior officers from all of the Irish Defence Forces and head of the Garda Drew Harris as Private Rooney was given a full military funeral. Bishops of Raphoe and Derry Alan McGuckian and Donal McKeown were joined by Irish army chaplain Fr Pascal Hanrahan at All Saints’ church along with the Republic's Agriculture Minister Charlie McConnellogue and Sinn Féin TDs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty.
As his cortege was brought from Dundalk, by special dispensation, Irish defence forces in uniform were allowed to accompany their comrade through Northern Ireland to Lifford, the gateway to Donegal.
Just outside Newtowncunningham, Private Rooney’s coffin, draped in the National flag and the blue UN peace-keeping flag, was placed on a gun carriage. Then to the sombre sounds of the Army Number One band, it was led by an escort party with arms reversed, accompanied by a 200-strong Irish army colour party.
Private Rooney’s mother Natasha and fiancé led his brothers, sisters and family, including two of his uncles and his great uncle who are serving soldiers. Local people, many weeping openly, lined route to All Saints’ graveyard, a poignant reminder that the funeral was not just a state occasion but one of heart-breaking personal pain for his family and friends.
As the slow-march turned into All Saints, veterans of the UN peace corps, Irish military police and the 27th Infantry Battalion were called to attention as they gave a final salute. Moments later, Private Rooney’s coffin was led to the graveside by Irish army piper Corporal Vincent Murray playing the Celtic Lament. His blue peace-corps beret, the UN colours and the national flag were then removed from his coffin and presented to his mother and fiancé.
Fr Hanrahan led the final prayers and paid a short tribute to the slain soldier.
He prayed: “May Seán who spent a life in pursuit of peace now find rest.”
At his funeral Mass in Dundalk earlier, Private Rooney was described as a “national hero”. In Donegal three volleys were fired in the traditional salute to a fallen warrior. Then as dusk descended on one of the darkest nights of the year, buglers Corporal Niall O’Leary and bandswomen Aoife Garry and Grace Taite sounded the Last Post and Reveille in honour of their departed comrade-in-arms.
