David Redmond:DAVID REDMOND (Daithí Mac Réamoinn), who has died aged 88, was widely respected in the book trade, with which he was associated for 70 years. He started his career with Hodges Figgis, then moved to Hanna's and finally joined Eason's, where he became manager of the wholesale books department.
In that capacity, he revelled in the challenge of assessing countless novels and books to ensure that Eason’s provided the broadest range of reading to customers.
The provisions of the Censorship of Publications Act sometimes led him to assess a book by its inclusion or otherwise to references to abortion or contraception. This was a practical matter: Irish booksellers risked financial loss if in error they stocked items on the “banned” or “to be banned” list.
His Catholic faith was important to him. He was a member of the Newman Society of Ireland, which fosters understanding of the work of Cardinal John Henry Newman. He regularly attended Latin Mass at St Kevin’s church, Harrington Street.
A stalwart of Conradh na Gaeilge, he also loved the classics. An enthusiastic bibliophile all his life, he was still making regular purchases through the Folio Society up to his death.
Born in Dublin in 1924, he was the son of Denis and Mabel Redmond (née Scanlon). Educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, he later attended night classes at UCD as a student of archaeology, Irish and Latin and obtained a BA in 1949.
For many years he worked as managing director of the Eason subsidiary, Irish Representations. The Troubles did not put him off visiting bookshops in Northern Ireland. He was respected by booksellers from both communities.
Following his retirement in the late 1980s, he continued to work with one of his daughters who went into business as a book supplier, assisting her until his death.
Redmond and his wife shared a love of the Irish language which they passed on their children.
A man of strongly held opinions, he saw no contradiction between his religion and the principles of social and economic justice set out by Karl Marx.
Predeceased by his wife Máire in 2010, he died on the same day as his brother Fergus and a joint funeral was held. He is survived by his daughters Aoife, Gabrielle, Bláthnaid, Claire and Eimear and son Donncha, his brother Basil and sisters Denise and Áine.
David Redmond (Daithí Mac Réamoinn): born May 10th, 1924; died October 23rd, 2012.