Gilmore pays tribute on death of staunch trade union activist

ROSS CONNOLLY gave “a lifetime of service to the labour and trade union movements”, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said yesterday.

Mr Connolly (83) a grandson of James Connolly, died at the weekend. He worked for the Irish Trade Union Trust for many years and lived in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

He is survived by his wife, Angela, and five children.

Mr Gilmore said Mr Connolly had played a key role in the party’s internal structures, serving for many years as chairman of conference steering committees as well as acting as returning office for internal party elections.

As a party member in Dublin South Central, Mr Connolly had been inspired by the vision and ideals of his grandfather, he added. “He was a committed trade unionist, having worked as a full-time official.”

As secretary of Siptu’s retired members’ section, Mr Connolly was a strong advocate for the rights of the elderly in recent years. He told a conference in 2008 that there was immense power in the “grey vote” to influence politicians, but it needed to be properly organised.

“You can talk all you like, you can make all the precise arguments, you can make all the right submissions, but if you are not able to connect with people on the ground . . . then you will not make progress on the labour agenda,” he said.

Mr Connolly was among the estimated 15,000 people who took to the streets to protest at changes to the over-70s medical card scheme.

“The Government said this was a breakdown in communication. It was a breakdown in respect for the older people,” he said.