The funeral of the late photo journalist Pierre Zakrzewski took place today with tearful mourners telling stories of the energetic Dubliner.
The Fox News cameraman was killed by Russian shelling of a town near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as he covered the invasion of Ukraine.
The Leopardstown native regularly visited war torn nations as part of his job and proudly used his Irish passport to gain access to restricted areas.
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The funeral at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Foxrock began with an instrumental of a traditional Irish song as the talented photo journalist's coffin of the was carried to the altar.
A toy motorbike, Tayto crisps, a camera and a book about the Rolling Stones - one of Pierre's favourite bands - were presented at the altar by Pierre's beloved nieces and nephews.
A family member, a childhood friend and a colleague recounted stories about the passionate cameraman which tended to revolve around his endless supply of energy, undying kindness and commitment to his work.
Pierre's brother told mourners the late camera man was born two month's premature because he was patient enough to last the full nine months.
He said: "Born two months premature, he came out a fighter, his restless leg and boundless energy we're not going to be able to wait the full nine months."
Pierre got a taste for meeting people from all over the world while working as a security guard at a campsite in Copenhagen one summer.
His brother, who was with him at the time, said: "He was in his element. It wasn't a desk job. He was meeting people from all over the world. That was his thing."
Pierre's godfather, Jean-Pierre, was a big influence on Pierre's life and instilled in him a hunger for adventuring around the globe.
"He bought him his first motorcycle and sound system," said Pierre's brother. "But his best gift of all was his travel stories.
"To quote Pierre directly, 'the stories of travel of up on the mountains of Peru and to Lake Titi allowed a young Pierre Zak to dream of travels and adventures in faraway places with exotic names like Spitsbergen. And 42 years later, for most of the year, I find myself all over the world. Whether it's work or simple track, and I'm still as amazed by the world and adventure as when I started. Thank you for inspiring me to live this life, Jean-Pierre.'"
"I would like to think their show is the leading Pierre in the next phase of his travels," added Pierre's choked up brother.
His brother concluded by saying Pierre was "a person the likes of we'll never meet again".
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was in attendance along with representatives for Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael D Higgins.
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