The funeral of RTÉ’s former political correspondent David Davin-Power took place in Dublin this afternoon.
The 72-year-old died last week. His funeral mass took place in St. Vincent de Paul Church, Marino.
President Michael D Higgins, several political representatives and media figures were in attendance.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was also among the mourners.
Speaking before the funeral mass, Mr Ahern paid tribute to Mr Davin-Power, saying was very intelligent and witty, as well as an excellent communicator and interviewer.
He said he knew him best when he was RTÉ’s Northern Editor, and he paid tribute to his work in Northern Ireland.
“He always stayed engaged, always up to date on the North. He tracked what was happening behind the scenes…a really good guy, a long, long career and I think his passing is mourned by everybody,” Mr Ahern added.
During the funeral mass symbols of Mr Davin-Power’s life were brought to the altar – a book to symbolise his love of Dublin, copies of Irish Times, the Sunday Times and the Financial Times to reflect his work in news and his much-loved cap.
In his homily, the main celebrant Father Bernard Treacy, paid tribute to his fortitude during his illness in recent months. He also commended him for his journalism.
“We must pay tribute here as so many have rightly done to David’s commitment to ensuring that listeners and viewers and in recent years readers could learn the truth.
“Commitment to uncovering the truth and to telling the truth is so heartbreakingly necessary in the world in which we now experience… the witness of truth-tellers is of paramount value today, and this is a day to recommit ourselves to be truth seekers and truth tellers.”
A tribute was read by former RTÉ broadcaster Bryan Dobson, who described him as a dear friend who was “loyal, generous, mischievous, curious, gregarious, a loving husband, a proud father and a besotted grandfather.”
He said, “DDP was the best of company, his conversation sparkled, it was witty, informed, opinionated and wide-ranging.”
Mr Dobson said his departure from RTÉ did not mean an end to his journalism and praised his columns for the Times Ireland and the Sunday Independent.
“Such was his intelligence and the breath of his learning that David could have had any career he chose, but he chose journalism, and it was to the great benefit to Irish journalism that he did.”
He paid tribute to his work on Morning Ireland as the first co-presenter, his influential time as head of news at Century Radio, as RTÉ’s Northern editor reporting on the peace process, as a political correspondent covering four general elections and the bank collapse.
He said Mr Davin-Power was a private man, and many of his good friends did not know the extent of his illness.
“He was a man of many talents and many gifts, but I believe I speak for many here today when I say the gift we prized above all was his friendship. He is gone too soon and too quick.”
