shane mcentee funeral, fine gael td funeral, enda kenny td, eamon gilmore td, meath funeral, minister funeral meath

Up to 3,000 people attend the funeral of Minister of State Shane McEntee.

In his homily, Fr Michael Sheerin spoke about how sensitive the Minister was.

Fr Sheerin also spoke about the irreparable loss to the late Minister's family, his wife Kathleen, children Aoife, Helen, Sally, Vincent as well as his mother Madge.

shane mcentee funeral, fine gael td funeral, enda kenny td, eamon gilmore td, meath funeral, minister funeral meath

Among the large congregation were the President and his wife, as well as the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and most Cabinet colleagues.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny delivered a graveside oration.

Mr McEntee, a farmer from Castletown near Navan in Co Meath, was first elected to the Dáil in 2005, in the by-election caused by the appointment of John Bruton to the post of EU Ambassador in Washington.

He retained his seat in Meath East in 2007 and 2011, when he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food, Food Safety and Horticulture.

Mr McEntee was a farmer for 15 years before becoming a full-time politician, as well as an agricultural sales representative.

He was involved in the GAA and had trained a number of football teams, including the Meath minors.

A book of condolences will be opened at the Department of Agriculture from midday for the late Minister of State Shane McEntee.