Funeral arrangements for Mr Joe Bruton

The removal of the remains of Mr Joe Bruton will take place on Sunday evening, March 1st, to the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, arriving at 5.30pm. Mr Bruton, Dunboyne, a former high profile figure in the National Farmers Association (later IFA), and father of politicians John and Richard Bruton, died on Friday, 27th February. He was due to celebrate his 100th birthday on Monday, 2nd March, and died at Marymount Care Centre, Westmanstown. A member of a well-known Dunboyne farming family, his involvement in national farming politics began in the 1960s when he was asked by the then Agriculture Minister, Charles Haughey, to examine the livestock export trade. He later gained prominence when involved in commanding the blockades of five bridges over the Boyne and roadblocks during the Farmers' Rights Campaigns of the 1960s. Mr Bruton served as the cattle exporters' representative on the Dublin Port and Docks Board for many years and served two terms as its chairman. His son, John, was Taoiseach from 1994-1997 and is currently the EU Ambassador to Washington. Richard, the Fine Gael front bench spokesperson on finance, is TD for Dublin North Central; and daughter Mary runs a montessori school in Dublin, Mr Bruton's wife, Doris, a member of the Delany family of Drumree, predeceased him three years ago. He is also survived by his sister Kattie (Fay), daughters-in-law Finola and Susan, his eight grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. The funeral is on Monday after 11am Mass to Rooske Cemetery, Dunboyne.