Funeral Services of John Redmond: March 1919

On March 9 in 1919, three days after he died in London, the remains of one of Wexford’s most famous sons, John Redmond, were brought home to the Model County. News of his death caused great sorrow everywhere and even those who disagreed with his politics were united in their praise of his distinguished service to his country. The Irish Catholic Directory of 1919 reported his death and the reaction to it, in great detail, including the arrival of his funeral train at Wexford Station. Most of the expressions of sorrow at his death were, however, from the political and social elite of the day, most of them London-based.

The news of his death has caused great sorrow everywhere, and messages of condolence were received in great numbers, including messages from  King George, Queen Mary, and Queen Alexandra,’ it reported. ‘His Eminence Cardinal Logue, in a  communication to a Belfast paper, said: ‘received with heartfelt sorrow the sad news of the death of Mr. John Redmond. ‘I am sorry for the deceased gentleman himself, whom I have always held in the highest respect and esteem, and I am especially sorry for Ireland, which loses in her time of greatest  need a wise, experienced, devoted leader. He has given long and distinguished service to his  country, which owes to his powerful advocacy and tireless efforts many valuable concessions. Like many others, I may not have always been in perfect agreement with the details of his policy, but I have never even dreamt of questioning his patriotism and singleness of purpose and disinterested  devotion to the welfare of his country or his commanding abilities. I believe the country will long mourn the loss of such a distinguished son.’

John Redmond’s remains were removed from  Westminster Cathedral, where they had lain in state, on Friday evening, March 8, and conveyed to  Ireland by the 8.45 night mail from Euston. They arrived in Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) on the  mail steamer at an early hour on the Saturday morning. The special train, the engine of which was heavily draped with crepe, left for Wexford at 7.30a.m. Touching scenes were witnessed along  the route At all the railway stations groups of people gathered to  watch the train, and workers in  the fields stood with bowed heads while it passed. At Macmine Junction, a community of nuns who were compelled to leave Belgium at the beginning of the First World War and found a home at Macmine Castle mainly through the exertions of Mr. Redmond, knelt in prayer near the railway line.

The platform at Wexford was crowded with the leading men of the town and county. The Mayor and Corporation of Wexford and representatives of public bodies in various parts of Ireland were present. The remains were received at the Church of the Immaculate Conception by Rev. Thomas  Hore, Adm. The Most Rev. Dr. Codd, Bishop of Ferns, presided at the Solemn Requiem Office and  High Mass. Rev Thomas Hore, Adm., was celebrant; Rev. John Sinnot, C.C., deacon; Rev. Martin  Conner, sub-deacon, and Rev. Matthew Wickham, C.C.,  master of ceremonies; Rev. Mark O’Byme and Rev. John Butler were chanters. There was a very  large attendance of priests from different  parts of the country in the choir. The sacred ceremonies  were most impressive, and thecongregation in the church were deeply affected.

Shortly after 2p.m., the remains were borne into the churchyard. The burial service was conducted by Rev. Father Hore, Adm., Wexford, assisted by the other priests, and the coffin was afterwards placed in the Redmond  family vault. In its reports into his death, the periodical says messages of condolences were  innumerable, and came from ‘all classes and all parts of the United Kingdom, and also from the Colonies and the United States’. In the House of Commons, eloquent tributes were paid to the deceased by the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, Sir Edward Carson, Mr. Adamson (Chairman of the Labour Party); Mr. Eugene Wason, for the Scottish Liberal members; and Sir Herbert Roberts,for the Welsh members. Mr. John O’Connor returned thanks on behalf of himself, his colleagues, Mrs.  Redmond, and the Irish leader’s relatives.

The remains were removed from the rivate nursing home  in which Mr. Redmond breathed his last on Wednesday night to Westminster Cathedral, where they were placed on a catafalque before the altar in the Holy Souls chapel.On Friday morning Mr.Redmond’s remains were removed front the Holy Souls Mortuary Chapel and placed on a catafalque in the nave immediately opposite the High Altar. Cardinal Bourne presided at the Solemn Requiem Mass, and also preached. Before pronouncing the Absolution, the Cardinal Archbishop ascended the pulpit, and gave a short address. His Eminence said ‘the Catholics of the United Kingdom knew that one has been taken from them who, to the extent of his power, and often  in very delicate and difficult circumstances, did battle time and again for the sacred interests of their common faith, and their minds travel back especially to the strenuous part that he took 12 years  ago in the defence of the religious character of our schools’.

• The Redmond family decided not to have any public display in Dublin at the time of his funeral in case it might cause unrest. On March 20, two weeks after Mr. Redmond’s death a Mass was celebrated in the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Gardiner Street. The ceremony was arranged for by the Clongowes Union, of which Mr. Redmond was a vice-president, and there was a considerable attendance of members. Mrs. J. B. Redmond (widow), Mr. Max Greene (son-in-law), and Mr. L.G.  Redmond Howard were the relatives in attendance. Mr. J. Dillon, Mr. J. Devlin, and several colleagues of deceased in the Irish Parliamentary Party occupied front seats in the church. Many members of the Irish Convention were present, including Sir Horace Plunkett (chairman) and Lord  Southborough. Representatives of the commercial and professional classes of the country also attended, and the Lord Chancellor and the Master of the Rolls, as well as numerous members of the  Irish Bar, were amongst the congregation.

Wexford People 

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

 

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