Fishermen unveil Haughey monument

DINGLE fishermen paid their own personal tribute to former Taoiseach Charles Haughey yesterday by unveiling a bronze bust of their “very good friend” in the harbour.

Local fisherman and Irish Fish Producers Organisation chief executive Lorcan Ó Cinnéide said they wanted to honour a Taoiseach in the truest sense of the word.

“As the fishing community in Dingle, we were not blind to Mr Haughey’s shortcomings, but we took him the way we found him which was the soul of kindness, of wit and of genuine concern for us,” he said.

The Dingle fishermen enjoy Mr Haughey and he enjoys them, Mr Ó Cinnéide added.

“We felt that the least we could do, taking everything into consideration, was to give him due recognition not for what he did for us, but for what he is to us - a very good friend,” he said.

The bronze bust was unveiled by retired fisherman Paddy Flannery and long- time friend of Mr Haughey, Micheál Ó Catháin.

Up to 500 people, including Mr Haughey’s four children, Eimear, Sean, Ciaran and Conor, his three grandchildren, Cathal, Iosaif and Eoin, and his brother Fr Owen Haughey, attended the unveiling before the start of the annual regatta.

Mr Haughey was too unwell to attend, but speaking on his behalf, Sean Haughey said his father sincerely appreciated the fishermen’s decision to erect the monument and was disappointed he could not be there.

Sean read a personal note from his father in which he said: “I appreciate the support of the people of Dingle, not just on this occasion, and the gracious manner in which you welcomed our family into your midst.”

The bronze bust was made by sculptor Nichola Kyle, who lives in Dublin, and the limestone monument on which it was placed was made by Clare sculptor Michael McTighe.