our 2001 national conference Michael O'Riordan stood out against the tide of Irish conservatism and clerical domination that kept Ireland backward and isolated in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s." O'Riordan's funeral at Glasnevin Crematorium was attended by over a thousand mourners. Following a wake the previous night at Finglas Rd, hundreds turned up outside the house of his son Manus and traffic ground to a halt as family, friends and comrades – many of whom were waving the red flag of the Communist Party of Ireland – escorted O'Riordan to Glasnevin Cemetery. A secular ceremony took place led by Manus O'Riordan (Head of Research at SIPTU) with contributions from O'Riordan's family, Communist Party general secretary Eugene McCartan and IBMT representative Pauline Frasier. The funeral congregation included politicians such as Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, his predecessor Ruairi Quinn, party front-bencher Joan Burton; Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe and councillor Larry O'Toole; former Workers' Party leader Tomás Mac Giolla and former Fianna Fáil MEP Niall Andrews. Also in attendance were union leaders Jack O'Connor (SIPTU), Mick O'Reilly (ITGWU) and David Begg (ICTU). Actors Patrick Bergin, Jer O'Leary; singer Ronnie Drew; artist Robert Ballagh; newsreader Anne Doyle were also among the mourners. Tributes and were paid by President of Ireland Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Labour Party TDs Ruairi Quinn and Michael D. Higgins. Works Pages From History: On Irish-Soviet Relations (1977) References External links Obituary of Michael O'Riordan (archived) Funeral of Michael O'Riordan, Born 12 November 1917 Died 18 May 2006 (Report & Photos) Michael D. Higgins pays tribute to Michael O'Riordan (archived) Ruairi Quinn pays tribute to Michael O’Riordan (archived) Gerry Adams expresses condolences to family and friends of Michael O'Riordan (archived) Biography on the Communist Party of Ireland website Irish Examiner, "Spanish Civil War veteran dies, aged 88" retrieved 18 May 2006 O'RIORDAN'S SPANISH BODENSTOWN (poem) (archived) 1917 births 2006 deaths Communist Party of Ireland politicians International Brigades personnel Irish anti-fascists Irish communists Irish people of the Spanish Civil War Irish Republican Army (1922–1969) members Irish republicans People from County Cork