Sir, - Forty nine years ago this week, with thousands of others, I took part in an event never to be forgotten. In a violent blizzard opening the fiercest spell of winter weather Ireland has suffered this century, we accompanied across the heart of Dublin Big Jim Larkin to his grave.
Looking over a long life, I am more than ever convinced that Larkin, for and with whom I worked and in whose house in 1935 I spent the most formative fortnight's holiday of my life, was the original source of most that is best in Irish public life. He taught people to stand up, stand firm, and with dignity demand the right to control our own destinies, for our own good and the community's. Everything worth while achieved here since, began from his passionate preaching of this message.
A magnificent orator and doughty foe, Larkin was anything but the irresponsible mob leader often depicted. He was shy, courteous, formidably well read and utterly selfless. He died worth less than £5.
Ireland, particularly our trade unions whose importance in our society owes so much to him, has 12 months to prepare an initiative worthy of him to commemorate the 50th year of his death. No movement, building or memorial park would do. Remember that Larkin visualised an Ireland not only where everyone would have something to do but something he or she enjoyed doing.
Larkin visualised an Ireland where working people controlled their futures through a network of democratic co operatives and municipal enterprises, financed by a network of credit unions, with co operative building enterprises providing their houses, hospitals, places of learning and entertainment. He knew it would not be built in a day or a single generation; but he knew a start must be made, or the Ireland he had done so much to free would become dominated by greed and selfishness.
Why not in January 1997 unveil a practical initiative, to open the way for Larkin's dream to move towards fulfilment in the 21st century? - Yours, etc.,
Grosvenor Terrace,
Sorrento Road,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.