TOMÁS MAC GIOLLA gave confidence to people whose only experience was accepting their second-class status because they saw no other way, Workers’ Party president Michael Finnegan told mourners at his funeral in Dublin yesterday.
Mr Finnegan, a friend for nearly four decades, said Mr Mac Giolla had convinced his followers that their issues were important and that change was possible.
“In the place of passively enduring the unacceptable as normal, they became aware that they had rights as human beings,” he said. “They had a right to a job, to healthcare, a decent education for their children, without suffering discrimination.” Mr Finnegan described his friend as “both gentle and fierce”.
He added: “Callers to Tomás were always welcomed warmly. He was a great listener and both young and old, men and women, could open their souls and know they were respected and heard. He was fierce when pursuing the rightness and justice of the cause he dedicated his life to.”
Mr Mac Giolla, he said, had asked why children from Ballyfermot and other working-class areas did not have the right to avail of a third-level education.
Mr Finnegan was among the speakers at a ceremony of tribute at Ballyfermot Civic Community Centre, where Mr Mac Giolla’s public and private lives were eulogised. In a varied career, Mr Mac Giolla was president of Sinn Féin and later the Workers’ Party, TD, lord mayor of Dublin and city councillor. He died last week in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
There were songs and music, with strong renderings by Joe McGowan of The Internationaleand Joe Hill. Sliabh na mBanwas sung as a salute to Mr Mac Giolla's native Tipperary.
Tom Hogan paid tribute to Mr Mac Giolla’s role as uncle and godfather, and there were other tributes from Senator Labhras Ó Murchú, Chris Hudson, founding member of the Peace Train, Áine Mannion, of Workers’ Party youth, Seán Garland, former party general secretary, and Des O’Hagan, of the party’s ard comhairle.
The chief mourners were Mr Mac Giolla’s wife, May, sister Evelyn, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen was represented by his aide de camp Comdt Michael Treacy. Also present were Dublin’s Lord Mayor Emer Costello, Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, Ruairí Quinn TD, Liz McManus TD, Joanna Tuffy TD and Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD. After the ceremony, Mr Mac Giolla was buried in Palmerstown Cemetery.