The funeral mass for broadcaster and actor Seán Rocks has taken place in his native Monaghan Town.
Mr Rocks, the voice of Arena on RTÉ Radio 1, died in Dublin following a short illness, he was 64.
President Micheal D Higgins and his wife Sabina were among the mourners.
Ronan Gargan reports:
The funeral of Seán Rocks heard that he was a charming and talented individual with a passion for acting and music.
The funeral mass took place in St Macartan’s Cathedral with chief celebrant parish priest for Ballybay, Canon Patrick McGinn.
Cannon McGinn said Seán was “a Monaghan man at heart”, he said the 64-year-old was a “lovable rogue, a messer, a chancer, but he always got away with it because he was caring, kind, and sensitive.”
The chief celebrant of the funeral mass said the people of Monaghan were very proud of Seán.
“We're all shocked and saddened at Sean's sudden death, especially when we were listening to him on the radio the Friday night before, we could all hear the sadness and the emotion in the voice of his colleagues as they announced Sean's death.
“We here in Monaghan are very proud of Sean rocks. We are very proud of all his achievements. He was one of us.”
Cannon McGinn said there was so much love for Sean, “messages on RIP.ie from listeners, some unnamed listeners, just felt that they new Sean could feel his warmth and his friendship, to speak of his knowledge, his professionalism and his ability to get the best from people I loved to hear his soothing, calm and consoling voice on the radio.
”If he had been a priest, I felt it would be very comfortable to go to confession to him, as his penance would be very light, all the same. I don't think priesthood would have been Sean's cup of tea.
“There were many influential people born in 1961 Sean Rocks, Barack Obama, Princess Diana, and modesty prevents me from saying that I too was born in 1961.”
A number of symbols of Mr Rocks life were then brought forward to the alter, which included a box of Seamus Heaney poetry, symboliskng his love of literature.
His headphones, symbolising the love he had for his career in broadcasting, something Cannon McGinn said it was a job he really loved and thrived at.
A family photograph and a wooden spoon, symbolising the love and dedication he had for his family and a theatre award, symbolising his illustrious career in theatre and in film.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was represented at the funeral by his aide-de-camp, Commandant Joseph Glennon along with some of the biggest names from the Irish arts community.
The funeral mass heard, Seán was a charmer from the very day he was born from sitting in the pram outside the family shop on Dawson Street in Monaghan, smiling at everybody.
Speaking to Northern Sound last week, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, Tara Campbell who is also a Co Monaghan native said Mr Rocks was a ”brilliant colleague and a fantastic broadcaster.”
Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ Director-General, said: “not only is radio the poorer for his passing, but so too has Ireland lost one of its most passionate advocates for the arts, and one of its most informed and versatile voices.”
Mr Rocks began presenting programmes on RTÉ Lyric FM in 2000 and became the voice of Arena on RTÉ Radio 1.
As a result of his role as anchor on ARENA, he has interviewed major artists across all artforms including the likes of Emma Thompson, Danny De Vito, Saoirse Rónan, Brendan Gleeson and Roddy Doyle.
Seán was on air up to a number of days before his sudden death and his untimely passing has come as a shock to his loyal listeners, members of the arts community, his friends and colleagues.
Born on 8 June 1961, Mr Rocks was raised in Monaghan town with his two brothers and two sisters. He would go on to have a formidable legacy in his acting and broadcasting career.
Family friend and actor Marion O'Dwyer also paid tribute to Mr Rocks. She said the W. B. Yeats quote 'my glory was I had such friends' applied so "easily" to the broadcaster.
Ms O'Dwyer said: "He was the king of friendship with an open honesty, wise counsel, loyalty, mischief and great roast dinners.” She added that, "Seán didn't leave you a voice note. You got a personal podcast.”
Seán was laid to rest in Latlorcan cemetery.
He is survived by his beloved Catherine, his sons Morgan and Christian, along with a wide circle of family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
