Published: Wednesday, 1st July, 2009 12:00pm
John O"Rourke Labour activist and trade unionist
THE death of Mr John O"Rourke, Jubilee Tce, Cavan, at Cavan General Hospital on Monday 22nd June removes from the scene one of the best known Labour Party activists and trade union officials. Aged 82 he was employed with McCarren and Co. for much of his adult life.
He joined the TIGWU in 1949 and began sixty years of community activism and public service. He was a Republic Socialist in the Connolly mode and organised, campaigned and fought for issues he was deeply concerned with and passionate about. A diligent trade unionist he was chairman of the Cavan branch and was branch representative on the bacon industry"s national industrial council and was very much involved in negotiations at national level. He acted as shop steward in McCarren"s and organised and represented the staff with regard to various issues like health and safety, sick pay and pensions. Prior to his long association with McCarren"s he worked at the old Flax Mill.
He was politically active from the 1920s the era shortly after Connolly"s execution in 1916. When Labour won a seat on Cavan Urban Council (now Town Council) at a time when they hadn"t been successful since 1950 he kept the party in place on the Council at elections in 1960, 1967 and 1974. He was elected Chairman in 1977 and held the post of vice-chairman on two occasions, 1967 and 1976. He stood at the General Election of the 18th Dail in 1965 and, although he wasn"t elected, he was later recognised by the Party in the early "90s by the then Tanaiste Dick Spring for his work for the party.
John was an avid reader with a keen intellect. Whenever he spoke at meetings or at other public functions he spoke with passion and was recognised at various Labour and SIPTU conferences for his commitment to its ideals. He recently received a standing ovation at a SIPTU conference as one of its longest serving delegates. Even in retirement he never gave up the causes of the Labour party"s aims and ideals, fighting for the rights of senior citizens. Most of all however he was a family man with a deep love and dedication to his family.
His wife Lily accompanied him to a number of Labour Party conferences.
He was a keen GAA follower and in his youth played with Cavan Harps and Crubany. He won two senior league medals with Cavan Harps in 1948 and "49
He is survived by his wife Lily, daughter, Doreen Foster and brother, Dominic. He was predeceased by his son, Michael, over twelve months ago.
The funeral took place on Thursday from the Cathedral to Killygarry cemetery. There was a guard of honour at the removal by members of Cavan Gaels and McCarren"s.
Tribute
In a tribute, Labour Party Councillor Des Cullen quoted a poem by James Connolly written in 1907 entitled 'We only want the earth from Songs of Freedom'.
Some men, faint-hearted, ever seek Our programme to retouch And will insist, whene"er they speak That we demand too much "Tis passing strange, yet I declare Such statements give me mirth For our demands most moderate are We only want the earth
'Be moderate', the trimmers cry Who dread the tyrant"s thunder You ask too much and people by From you aghast in wonder "Tis passing strange, for I declare Such statements give me mirth For our demands most moderate are.
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