May 20, 2011
In Memory of Garret FitzGerald
Former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, died yesterday. A businessman, politician, intellectual and writer, there are few aspects of Irish public life he did not touch upon over the course of his life. The print and electronic media abound today with tributes and memorials. It is clear that the country has lost a man whose own life and work still speaks to many of the issues facing Ireland today – the usefulness of Seanad Éireann as a gateway into politics for those with real experience and talent to offer, the difficulty of pursuing progressive social change in a country with a strong conservative history and the need to rejuvenate the public and economic life of the state at a time when both are languishing. Several of us that now call HRinI home were in a packed Boole 4 lecture theatre in October 2002. The Nice Treaty was the subject of the first debate of the UCC Philosophical Society’s year and for many of us it was the first debate we had attended at university. An articulate and well-prepared ‘No’ campaign led by MaryLou MacDonald presented their case with vigour. Garret destroyed them. Indeed, he set the bar so high I don’t think I saw anything to match it in a university debate in the years that followed. I can only claim to have had one extended conversation with the man. It was a few years ago at the opening conference of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence. He was, along with former President Mary Robinson, one of a range of former heads of state and of government who spoke on the difficulties of conflict resolution. As my research was being funded by the NUI I approached him to express gratitude. My efforts to slip away quickly so as not to bother him were for nought. Garret wanted to chat. What followed was a most enjoyable half-hour on politics, conflict, university life and everything else besides. Indeed, a colleague from King’s had to interrupt to drag Garret away – he was due on stage! When HRinI held a roundtable discussion last August to commemorate our first year the NUI were kind enough to host us in their building in Merrion Square. At the end of the boardroom was a large portrait of the Chancellor of the University, Dr Garret Fitzgerald, in full academic dress. As our debate began someone commented that we were lucky to have Garret watching over us. May it be ever thus.
Well put Cian. I too remember that evening in Boole 4. Garret was somewhat dishevelled, you may recall, but stood up at the lectern and took the argument apart piece by tiny piece before building a hugely convincing counter argument for Nice. Anyone who ever wants to be involved in anything involving persuasion would do well to watch some of the YouTube videos of him speaking in such debates. I too had only one long conversation with him, and he was extremely warm speaking about my (then mere idea of a) PhD in the IMMA at an NUI prize-giving in 2002. He got entirely stuck into discussing everything about it, and was an incredibly warm and open man.
Ní bheidh a leithéad arís ann.
Yes I think it was the combination of typical Irish oratorical passion and flair coupled with forensic analysis of the issues that made him so compelling – he could appeal to the head while firing the heart. CM