The funeral is taking place of legendary show band singer Dickie Rock, who died last week at the age of 88.
His funeral cortège arrived at the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Cabra West this morning and the coffin carrying his remains was carried inside to the sound of his hit song Come Back to Stay.
Dickie Rock was unquestionably Ireland’s first pop superstar.
During his time with the Miami Showband, he enjoyed more than a dozen hit records with songs such as Georgie Porgie, Every Step of the Way and From The Candystore on the Corner.
One of their hits, To Whom It Concerns, became the signature tune of RTÉ The Late Late Show.
The requiem mass is being concelebrated by his friend Fr Brian D’Arcy and by Fr Paul Thornton.
Among the gifts brought to the alter were a microphone and a photo of Dickie with his beloved wife Judy, who died in 2022.
Fr D’Arcy said Dickie Rock meant many things to many different people and that seeing him perform would mean your worries would be forgotten for two hours.
He said as an entertainer, the only thing Dickie had wanted to do in life was to make people happy and he said he had used the voice and the talent that God had given him to do that.
He said the showband era had helped take Ireland from a very dark place.
With the bands, Fr D’Arcy, said had come electricity, cars and the opening up of dance halls allowing people to get out of their own areas, be themselves and meet others.
Dickie Rock was a father of six and his son Joseph, who predeceased him, has been remembered at the funeral.
His son, Peter Rock, recalled a loving caring father who was more than the man on stage, and who grappled with his own grief following Joseph’s death to help his family through theirs.
However, he said it was the loss of his mother and Dickie’s wife Judy that was devastating for him. He said she was the love of his life and he was never the same after.
Peter told mourners that he was so proud of his dad and everything he had achieved.
The funeral readings were led by Dickie’s daughter Sarah and daughter-in-law Ruth Rock.
Prayers of the faithful were led by Ben Rock, Tony Murray, and Mia and Aisling Rock.
Dickie Rock was described by Fr D’Arcy as a great rock-and-roller, who once even upstaged Cliff Richard.
President Michael D Higgins is being represented by his Aide-de-Camp Paul O’Donnell.
Among the mourners are producer and presenter Aonghus McAnally, as well as Dickie Rock’s good friend and fellow showband performer Ronan Collins and Liveline presenter Joe Duffy.
