Watch the power of the church assemble though when some old Irish Catholic, who has supported the church his entire life, wants someone to sing Danny Boy at his funeral. Then the whole church operation springs into action to prevent such an awful, unthinkable act. It can and does act with great agility and power.

Maybe just an aside to this thread but I wouldn't think 'the whole church operation springs into action' when funeral arrangements are concerned. That is pretty much something that's in the hands of the Parish Priests. I only ever get inside a church for the funerals of friends, musicians mostly and have never seen restrictions placed on the goings on (although I am aware that in some places the local priest can put his foot down). In fact I have heard music played, have played music inside churches, I have witnessed how the PP put on his civvies and 'let the family have the hall' for Tom Munnelly's funeral and presided over a secular service that included a rake of singers.

I have been at a concelabrated mass for a local singer/dancer which was presided over by an old friend and neighbour of the deceased (a former missionary priest) who spent his time on the altar reminiscing and telling stories how they in their young days travelled the country chasing music and telling stories 'like we were in a pub' (as someone remarked after). That service ended with the priest remarking it wouldn't be in the spirit of the deceased to let this turn into a funeral, after which he called for a half set to be danced in front of the altar (by some of the finest dancers in Clare with Jackie Daly playing a blast of reels up in the choir gallery).

I don't know how anyone else's experiences are, my eyes were certainly opened   by these goings on to the fact the church can on occasion muster a liberal streak when the situation arises.