Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to one of two men killed in a light aircraft crash at the weekend.
Dr John Finnan, 58, from Athy in Co Kildare, was remembered as a “top-quality scientist” and “best friend".
At the funeral, Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle said the senior researcher was “the absolute definition of a gentleman".
The aircraft John and his friend Peter Tawse were travelling in plunged from the sky shortly after take-off at an airfield in Duncormick, Co Wexford, just before 6pm
Mr Tawse’s funeral will be held tomorrow at St Abban’s Church in Adamstown at noon.
Meanwhile, Wexford native Peter Tawse, 61, will be laid to rest later this week.
Mr Tawse, from Old Ross, had been a flying instructor since 1982 and was well known throughout the region, having been the manager of Waterford Airport from 1987 until 2002.
Fellow flying enthusiast Mr Finnan worked for Teagasc in Carlow and was originally from Athy, Co Kildare, but lived in Naas and was part of the Wexford Flying Club.
A relative of Mr Tawse described him as "very kind, a real gentleman and he never had a bad word to say about anybody.
“He was really particular about his work, an absolute perfectionist. We’re all very upset here and finding it so hard to believe.
"Peter was good-natured and good-humoured, he liked the easy-going life. He was an exceptional person. That’s the best way I can put it.”
A death notice on RIP.ie reads: "Beloved husband of Kay, son of Margaret and the late Andrew and brother of Liz, John, Lucy and Emi.
"Sadly missed by his loving family brothers in law Julian, Doug, Niall, Michael, Ned, John and Francis, sisters in law Silvia, Statia, Mary, Anne, Helen and Mary J, nephews, nieces, grand nephews, grand nieces, extended family and friends."
