Oscar winning actress Brenda Fricker “brought out the best in people” and “shot from the hip”, her funeral in Dublin has heard.

Fricker, who died last month, won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 1990 for playing Daniel Day-Lewis’s on-screen mother in My Left Foot.

She was the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award, beating Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts and Anjelica Huston.

The funeral mass took place in St Catherine’s Church on Meath Street at 11:00 local time and was followed by a private burial.

The 81-year-old was also well known for playing nurse Megan Roach in the BBC’s Casualty from 1986, making her final appearance in 2010; and was the Central Park pigeon lady in 1992’s Home Alone sequel.

Crowds of locals gathered outside on the street and clapped as her hearse made its way down the road and into the church.

Monsignor Eoin Thynne said Fricker was a “Liberty belle at heart”, referring to the place in Dublin where the actress lived.

“Brenda wanted this day to be simple and dignified. No grand display, just those she loved gathered together.

“She won the highest honour in her profession – an Academy Award.

“What really mattered to her was not the trophy, not the applause or recognition, what mattered to her most of all was bringing out the best in people. That was Brenda’s greatest gift, to see the light in others and help to make it shine brightly,” he said.

Among the mourners who attended the ceremony at St Catherine’s Church on Thursday were Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, who starred along side Fricker in the 1990 film The Field.

Musician Frankie Gavin and TV presenter Ray D’Arcy were also among the congregation.

Director Jim Sheridan, who was Oscar-nominated for co-writing and directing My Left Foot, was also present at the funeral

The funeral heard how her role as Christy Brown’s mother in the film was played with “tenderness” and “heart”.

“She didn’t have to act kind, she lived kindness. Her generosity was legendary,” Monsignor Thynne said.

The priest said she “shot from the hip” and told the congregation how Fricker did not like to be contacted before noon as she “liked her mornings” which prompted laughter from the mourners.

He said this was a “golden rule of Brenda’s day”.

“Brenda marched to the beat of her own wonderful, joyful drum. She said it as it was. She shot from the hip.”

Fricker’s friend Virginia Gilbert, who is a filmmaker, shared memories of her friendship with Fricker.

She said Fricker was “never about surface”.

“It was always about what was most authentically valuable. She was remarkable that way. What a privilege to have had such a friend. She could talk to anyone and they had her full attention, she never patronised, never lauded it nor played a part.”

The funeral ended with Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Prestley playing as mourners left the church.

Born in Dublin, Fricker began her acting career with parts in TV and the theatre, including Ireland’s first soap opera Tolka Row in the 1960s, and ITV soap Coronation Street in 1977.

She was in the cast of the first episode of long-running BBC medical drama Casualty in 1986, remaining a fixture until 1990 and returning regularly in the subsequent years.

In her Oscar’s speech she dedicated the award to all the people of Ireland.

My Left Foot told the true story of an Irish man named Christy Brown, played by Day-Lewis, who was born with cerebral palsy and could control only his left foot. The actor also won an Oscar, his first of three, for his starring role.

Perhaps her most memorable role, however, came two years later when Fricker was cast as the homeless bird lady befriended by Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin in Home Alone 2.

Her other film credits included 1993’s So I Married An Axe Murderer, 1994’s Angels In The Outfield, 1996’s A Time To Kill and 2003’s Veronica Guerin.

However, she later claimed she would have gone on to have a better career if it hadn’t been for her success at the Oscars.