Celebrities and politicians turn out for funeral of internationally acclaimed Irish poet Seamus Heaney
Nobel laureate and poet Seamus Heaney's last words to his wife were "don't be afraid", one of his son's has revealed at his funeral. Family and friends joined contemporaries and dignitaries of the world renowed writer and hundreds of mourners at a church in south Dublin to pay last respects to one of Ireland's literary greats. The internationally acclaimed 74-year-old writer died unexpectedly in hospital on Friday after a short illness. Mourners at his funeral at the Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook - near where the Northern Ireland-born poet made his home - were led by his widow Marie and children Michael, Christopher and Catherine Ann. Michael spoke briefly at the end of the service to thank those who cared for his father and those who have offered support and praise since his death. "His last few words in a text message he wrote to my mother minutes before he passed away were in his beloved Latin and they read - 'nolle timere' ('don't be afraid')," he said.