Factfile

Name: Des Geraghty.

Age: 53 years.

Why is he in the news?

Just elected vice-president of country's largest union. As vice-president he has primary responsibility for SIPTU's industrial relations strategy, including power to sanction strikes.

Background:

Quintessential working class socialist Dub, from a family steeped in radical politics. His grandfather was an Invincible, his father was in Fianna Eireann in the War of Independence. His mother sold newspapers outside the Ballast Office to feed her family because all the men in the family were in prison or on the run. Both were committed Larkinites.

Des Geraghty's oldest brother Sean was the first trade unionist in Britain imprisoned under the Thatcher government's Industrial Relations Act during a strike by Fleet Street electricians. Of his other brothers, Hughie is secretary of the CIE group of unions and Se was formerly active with ATGWU in Waterford. His nephew, Tomas, is deputy general secretary of the Public Service Executive Union.

In addition to his trade union activities, Des Geraghty has written books on a variety of subjects including European Works Councils and folk singer Luke Kelly. He is a former Workers Party activist and Democratic Left MEP for Dublin and an accomplished traditional Irish musician.