The priest at Lyras funeral

No problem Paddyann with customs changing as long as it is done for the right reasons and not just because it has become the fashionable thing to do. I don't have a problem with people applauding a hearse on its way through the streets. That is a showing of respect, just as the Police salute the hearse in my home town. Still, the young have their own way of doing things and it isn't in my book a hanging offence. Personally, I would hate a standing ovation at my funeral.

I think clapping and standing ovations after speeches is becoming the norm at many funerals.We attended the funeral of a young friend who died age just 23 ,there wasn't enough space in the crematorium for everyone ,people stood in the aisles and outside and the service was broadcast out to them.The whole service overran by almost 2 hours ! All his friends wanted to have a say and they all got rounds of applause which wouldn't have been allowed in the past.It ran so late his body had to be held for commital until the next day.I guess if family and friends are OK with the standing ovation thats all that counts .
The very first time I saw people applaud a hearse was when Donald Dewar (scottish politician ) died suddenly and the crowds applauded his hearse as it travelled through Glasgow .Customs change Devorgilla with new generations .

Gays have church burial services here, how stupid , a priest would there no matter the life of the deceased . Typical comment from an theist

I think when it comes to who stood for the standing ovation there is a lack of understanding about the culture of Northern Ireland, both North and South, when it comes to funerals. It is simply not the custom to have a demonstration of emotion like that and in no way reflects on the depth of grief of the participants. I would have been surprised at such a gesture if I had been present. This death is seen as significant because it came after a long period of peace - a peace which is, and always has been, very fragile. The other 3000+ deaths in Ireland during the Troubles - were just as significant but did not stop the violence returning at the first excuse. You don't have to stand for a spontaneous ovation just because others do.

Actually, why was it such a big funeral? Was Lyra - (sorry can't remember her other name) famous as a journalist? I have to admit to never having heard of her before now.

I think the question of who stood up first or last is a complete red-herring. Let's face it, if it had been a member of the gay community who had died under any other circumstances, and without the huge media furore surrounding this death, neither Arlene Foster nor the priest would have been there. So both are complete hypocrites. Crocodile tears!!!

It's happened to us, too, not at a funeral, but at a concert when we suddenly realised that everyone was starting to give a standing ovation - you hear a shuffling, a quick glance behind and then stand up yourself.

I think the same Callistemon

I also saw Leo Varadkar stand after Arlene Foster.
I saw that too, and just thought that the people sitting nearer the front were just becoming aware that others behind them had stood up and then stood up themselves.

You want it scrapped but you’ll use it to suit - cake and eat it on both sides then. But in the context of the subject of this thread wouldn’t it be a magnificent gesture of the DUP to commit to same sex marriage legislation? Just this one gesture to truly honour the memory of LM and send a huge message to the gay community in NI that they are equal with the rest of the UK and the RoI? What’s been asked for is treating all gay people in the UK the same, not giving extra rights to those in NI. I really don’t get why people who think the union is such a wonderful thing think that it’s all right to do a ‘pick and mix’ on what bits we should be unified on.

Goodbye thread.?

DUP wanted the Petition of Concern scrapped. SF wouldn't agree. SF used it to block Welfare Bill. Wanting cake.......

And it’s not taking sides to say that AF refusal to resign over the heating scandal was unacceptable ( which played right into SF’s hands which I woukd almost guess she intended)

I don’t think that SF are being bigoted for wanting same sex marriage to be legislated. The last vote for it was passed but the DUP used something called a ‘petition of concern’ to stop it being enacted. This it seems to me partly explains why SF want some firm commitments on some issues such as this and the Irish Language before they will go back into power sharing. The DUP acted in bad faith ( ha) re the petition of concern and we’ve seen their behaviour over here so I don’t think it’s taking sides to think they’re not to be trusted without prior commitments bring made. Also it’s not taking sides to accuse the DUP of wanting its cake and eating it by picking and choosing which bits of UK values and laws it subscribes to.

The Catholic Church seems to be losing some of the power and influence it once had in Northern Ireland and Eire. The decline is linked to the extent of csa and the way the Church dealt with its exposure. Alongside that, the power of Religion in western societies is diminishing.
The loved ones of Lyra decided to have a religious funeral, which recognised both key faiths of their country.

Presumably, they chose the priest who officiated, which suggests his personal views more reflected what Lyra stood for than a more traditional priest.

I understand maryeliza's mixed feelings about the OP given the anti gay stance of the Catholic Church and the DUP. My own feelings are of sadness and anger at the dreadful murder of this vibrant, kind young woman. She lost her life, her loved ones will suffer her loss for the rest of their lives. I can only hope that her name will be remembered and perhaps that her brutal murder will reinforce the belief amongst younger people in NI who condemn bombings, murders, criminal activity - whichever 'side' of the ongoing troubles the thugs represent.
It's too easy to take simplistic sides in this kind of discussion. The real difficulty lies with the politicians who seem still to be totally unable to put their bigoted views aside and work actively together for peace.

Good morning. I have just watched what the priest said before the short televised portion and yes, I get it Good point. I'm glad he said it.
I also saw Leo Varadkar stand after Arlene Foster.
Some people see what they want to see.

anniebach The matter of Lyra McKee's sexuality was not "trivial" to her, as her words demonstrated when she referred to a pastor who described lesbians living together as "sexual perverts.”

McKee wrote:

“People like Pastor McConnell made 14-year-old me feel like I was better off dead, rather than deal with the shame of being gay.”

I don't think any of the people on here who have been less enamoured by the priest's statement re politicians are filled with hate. They are expressing a view as to its appropriateness, given the church's stance on homosexuality.

Totally now.

I don't this I'll take this any further.

Gonegirl not all gay people have sex you know. Gay people are still gay outside of the bedroom.

Good point Anniebach . A big part of the problem in my country is people won't let go of the past.
Goodnight...definitely!

(We do seem to have rather strayed from "what the priest said"

notanan Newsflash: being bessie mates with another female is not the same as being gay. Gay partners have sex. Together.

I've got to say that doesn't sound loving.
But you know we could spend hours swopping quotes/stories about different prominent people on both sides, dead and alive. They aren't just limited to DUP in spite of it being portrayed that way.
It serves no purpose.
Goodnight.

Please stop the conflating of sexuality and sex acts

And once again, talking about being gay doesnt = talking about ones "sex life"