HILLERY Dr. Patrick J

HILLERY Dr. Patrick J. (Paddy) (Clare, Brussels and Dublin) - The family of Dr. Patrick Hillery wish to thank all those who supported them during Paddy's illness, following his death and during and since his funeral. We are especially indebted to the people from all over Ireland who took time to come to St. Mary's Pro - Cathedral to pay their respects, those who came to celebrate Paddy's life with us at the Parish Church in Miltown Malbay and all who took time to travel to sign the books of condolence at different centres around the country or who took time to write to us with their memories and good wishes. Paddy was always grateful for the kindness of the people of Ireland to him during his public life and his retirement and we echo that in our thanks for the very public support we experienced and continue to experience following his death. Paddy asked that we thank his GPs Dr. John and Dr. Carol Anne Casey, the specialists at the Mater; Professor David Powell, Dr. John Mc Caffrey and to Dr. Karen Ryan of the Mater and St. Francis' Hospice in Raheny. He also greatly appreciated the professionalism and kindness of the staff at the Mater Private Hospital and especially the professionalism, care, friendship and kindness shown by all the staff at St. Francis' Hospice. As a family we also experienced great support from the nurses, chaplains and other staff at St. Francis' and we will always be grateful. We thank many friends for their support and especially President Mary Mc Aleese, Dr. Martin Mc Aleese and the Taoiseach Mr. Brian Cowen. Their public actions were welcome and even more so their private actions consoled and continue to console us in our loss. Thanks also to Mr. Bertie Ahern for his kindness and support to Paddy and Maeve during Paddy's retirement. We are grateful also to the leaders of the opposition parties, to the Ceann Comhairle and the current and past members of the Dáil and Senate who took time to publicly acknowledge Paddy's contribution to Irish public life and to express their condolences to us. Thanks also to the members of the Diplomatic Corps and to the representatives of bodies both national and international who attended the funeral or took time to write to us. We also acknowledge the public comments and private messages from County Councils and bodies around the country which consoled us greatly in our grief. We also thank all the journalists and commentators who took time to recognise Paddy's contribution to public life. All who witnessed the State Funeral will join us in expressing thanks to the officials of the Dublin Archdiocese for the splendid ceremony. We especially are grateful for the way Fr. Pat O'Donoghue, Canon John Flaherty and the Choir and others at St. Mary's Pro - Cathedral made a wonderful public ceremony also a spiritual and private family occasion. For this too we are grateful to Paddy's nephew Fr. Des and to Paddy's friend of nearly half a century Fr. Aiden Lehane for their support and the way they celebrated Paddy's life at the ceremonies in Dublin and Miltown Malbay at a time of great personal grief for them. We thank Archbishop Martin and Bishop Kelly for their memorable input to the funeral and the removal respectively. We are also grateful to Cardinal Brady for his presence at the funeral. We thank the Chief of Staff of the Army and his officers, NCOs and soldiers and the Garda Commissioner and his officers for the smoothness and splendour of the ceremonial events over two days as we took Paddy on his last journey from Raheny to Dublin and finally to St. Fintan's Cemetery. Thanks to Mr. Dermot Mc Carthy, Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and his staff who organised the funeral and especially to Mr. Phillip Hamell and Mr. Brian Collinge who gave us direct support during and since the funeral. Thanks also to Mr. John T. Murphy and all those at Gaisce - the President's Award who provided support for those who attended the funeral. We thank the Director General of RTE and his staff for the splendid and sensitive coverage of the funeral and especially to Fr. Dermot Mc Carthy for his personal support. As a family we thank Mr. Jonathan Stafford and all at Stafford's Funeral Directors who were involved in Paddy's funeral and ensured that we had time and space in what was also a major public event. Thanks finally to Fr. Sean Murphy PP Miltown Malbay, Bishop Willie Walsh, other priests and the choir and musicians who made our homecoming to Miltown Malbay so consoling and memorable. Mass will be offered for the intentions of all.