The priest celebrating the funeral of Christy O'Connor Junior has called the golfer a "great human being".
Midday mass-goers in Galway Cathedral heard that glowing tributes began to flow in, after news of his death broke.
O'Connor Jnr died suddenly while on holiday in Tenerife last week. He was 67-year-old.
Fr Michael Kelly spoke of his achievement as a father, sportsman and charity fundraiser.
He competed in over 20 major championships and was a member of the Ryder Cup winning team in 1989 in which he secured victory for the European team with his two-iron approach.
He also won back-to-back Seniors British Opens titles.
He came from a famous Irish golfing family. His uncle, Christy O'Connor Senior, was part of the World Cup winning Irish team in 1958, and was also part of ten Ryder Cup teams.
O'Connor Junior was a four-time winner on the European Tour - including a victory at the Irish Open in 1975 at Woodbrook.
He also thrived on the Seniors Tour, winning the Seniors British Open in 1999 and 2000.
He will be buried in Rahoon Cemetery alongside his 17-year old son Darren, who was killed in a crash in 1998.
He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Ann and son Nigel.
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