PEARSE WYSE, who has died aged 81 years, was one of a number of Fianna Fáil TDs who left the party for the Progressive Democrats in the politically turbulent 1980s.
Steeped in Fianna Fáil, the quintessential Corkman was close to his fellow Corkonian, Jack Lynch, and never forgave elements within the party for what he considered to be the betrayal of the “real taoiseach”.
He consistently and bitterly opposed the leadership of Lynch’s successor, Charles Haughey, and joined the PDs when it was established by Lynch’s one-time ministerial protege and Haughey’s political enemy, Des O’Malley.
A book binder, and later printing works’ manager, Wyse’s political career began in 1960 when he was elected to Cork city council. He served as Lord Mayor in 1967 and 1974.
He was first elected to the Dáil, for the then Cork city constituency, in 1965. A year later, Lynch was elected taoiseach and their long association was cemented in their native Fianna Fáil stronghold.
A shrewd and energetic constituency worker, Wyse won every general election he contested, in different Cork city constituencies, until he retired from the Dáil in 1992. He consolidated his base through his involvement in local sporting and community groups.
Wyse’s big break in national politics came in 1977 when the Lynch-led Fianna Fáil swept back to power with a 20-seat majority. Lynch appointed him to the prestigious junior ministerial post at the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Wyse took to his brief with enthusiasm, while continuing to keep a close eye on his home base.
He believed his southern roots were a factor when he became embroiled in controversy with those advocating the preservation of the Viking site at Wood Quay, Dublin, which was the location chosen for the new civic offices.
In March 1979, he expressed the hope that those opposed to building offices on the site would not go on about Corkmen all the time. “Jack Lynch and I,” he said, “care as much about Wood Quay as any Dubliner does.”
When Lynch retired as taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader later that year, Wyse backed George Colley in the contest with Haughey. Wyse lost his junior ministerial job in the Haughey reshuffle, although another Lynch protege, Gene Fitzgerald, was retained as a senior minister in an attempt to boost the party’s fortunes in Cork.
Wyse was vocal in his opposition to Haughey’s leadership from the start. In October 1982, he seconded a vote of no confidence in Haughey which was proposed by Charlie McCreevy.
Wyse called for a secret ballot at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting. “I would be concerned that the traditional democratic approach, especially to the question of leadership, should not be eroded,” he said.
Haughey survived, but Wyse’s opposition to him continued. His decision to join the Progressive Democrats with former FF colleagues, such as O’Malley, Mary Harney, Bobby Molloy, and, locally, Máirín Quill, who later became a TD, was a major boost for the new party.
An estimated 2,500 people gathered for a PD meeting in Cork in January 1986, when his defection was announced. He was close to tears, it clearly being a huge emotional wrench. The attendance included Lynch’s long-time friend and local Fianna Fáil stalwart, Jerry O’Mahoney. He remarked that he had never seen anything like it, not even when “Jack Lynch was still the boss”. Lynch’s unspoken approval for the new party was obvious.
Wyse retained his local support base, topping the poll with 10,935 first preferences in the 1987 general election.
In June 1989, in advance of the formation of the FF-PD coalition, Wyse described Haughey’s leadership of FF as a “stumbling block” to the unlikely partnership. But the deal was done and Wyse supported his PD colleagues.
His retirement from the Dáil, in 1992, made way locally for Pat Cox; he remained a councillor for another seven years.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa, and their son, Pearse Óg.
Pearse Wyse: born March 2nd, 1928; died April 28th, 2009