Seamus Heaney funeral in Dublin: Celebrities from music, literature and politics join grieving family Service held at Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook in the south of Dublin Michael Heaney tells congregation father texted plea to wife Marie in Latin U2's Bono and Edge joined Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness Nobel laureate and poet Seamus Heaney's last words to his wife were 'don't be afraid', one of his son's revealed at his funeral today. Michael Heaney told the congregation, which included rockstars, writers and politicians, that his father made the moving plea to wife Marie via a text massage in Latin moments before he died. Michael spoke briefly at the end of the service to thank those who cared for his father, who died on Friday aged 74, and those who have offered support and praise since his death. 'His last few words in a text message he wrote to my mother minutes before he passed away were in his beloved Latin and they read - "nolle timere" ("don't be afraid"),' he said. Farewell to a legend: A mourner lays his hands on the coffin of Nobel Laureate poet Seamus Heaney before his funeral at the Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook in south Dublin Much loved: Heaney's work made him world famous but it was his sense of humour that also won him a great deal of affection Among those packing the pews of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart for his funeral were Irish government leaders, poets and novelists, Bono and The Edge from rock band U2, and former Lebanese hostage Brian Keenan. Ireland's foremost uilleann piper, Liam O'Flynn, played a wailing lament before family members and friends offered a string of readings from the Bible and their own often-lyrical remembrances of the country's most celebrated writer of the late 20th century. The legendary wordsmith won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1995. Mourners at his funeral were led by his widow Marie and children Michael, Christopher and Catherine Ann. Chief celebrant of the Mass, Monsignor Brendan Devlin, opened the service with the remark that Heaney might have liked to have his funeral celebrated by someone with a Northern accent. Friends in the north: Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were also there Tribute: U2 frontman Bono and his wife Alison Houston attended the funeral to one of Ireland's best loved poets He summed up why the poet was held in such high regard by people from all walks of life. 'He could speak to the King of Sweden, an Oxford don or a south Derry neighbour with the directness of a common and shared humanity,' he said. A posy of flowers from the garden of the Heaney family home in Sandymount and a book of some of Heaney's works were offered as gifts during the service. The Mass was ended with a reading of one of Heaney's poems, The Given Note, from his second published collection. Paul Muldoon, a teacher, poet and friend of Heaney, gave the eulogy following the service. 'We remember the beauty of Seamus Heaney as a bard and today in particular in his being,' he said. 'From your loving family': Family flowers on the coffin of the Nobel Laureate poet Star studded: His lifelong friend and poetry contemporary Michael Longley (right) was among the mourners, along with U2 The Edge (left) Michael Heaney, one of the poet's sons, spoke briefly to thank those who cared for his father and those who have offered support and praise since his death. He revealed that his father had sent a text message to his mother, Marie, last Friday. 'His last few words in a text message minutes before he passed away in his favourite Latin were 'nolle timere' ('don't be afraid'),' he said. Irish President MIchael D Higgins, himself a published poet, attended along with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and former president Mary McAleese and her husband Martin. Heaney will be buried this evening in his native Bellaghy in Co Derry - a village that inspired so much of his work. Support: Irish Poet Peter Fallon (left) and Irish President Michael D Higgins (right) both attended the service 'A gift to the world': Former US president Bill Clinton (pictured with wife Hillary) has been among those paying tribute, describing Heaney as 'our finest poet of the rhythms of ordinary lives' and a 'powerful voice for peace' His lifelong friend and poetry contemporary Michael Longley were among the mourners, along with musician Paul Brady and U2 stars Bono - with his wife Ali Hewson - Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton. Heaney has been hailed as the greatest poet Ireland produced since William Butler Yeats. Former US president Bill Clinton has been among those paying tribute, describing Heaney as "our finest poet of the rhythms of ordinary lives" and a "powerful voice for peace." A hastily arranged celebration of the poet's life in Belfast's Lyric theatre on Saturday night was packed to capacity as the audience was treated to poignant recitals of his best known works. Family man: Heaney is survived by his wife, Marie, (pictured) and children, Christopher, Michael and Catherine Ann Special: In 1995 Irish writer and poet Seamus Heaney poses with the Nobel Prize for Literature for his work, which in later years included an acclaimed translation of Beowulf Books of condolences are open in Derry, Belfast and Dublin. Mr Kenny has said it would take Heaney himself to describe the depth of loss Ireland felt over his death. The 1995 Nobel prize-winner was born in April 1939, the eldest of nine children, on a small farm called Mossbawn near Bellaghy, and his upbringing often played out in the poetry he wrote in later years. The citation for the award praised Heaney "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past."