Progressive Democrats - Remember founders’ courage

IT WAS not quite a Barack Obama moment but when, almost a quarter of a century ago, Des O’Malley, Mary Harney, Michael McDowell, Bobby Molloy and others established the Progressive Democrats they gave rise to a huge sense of relief and optimism among a considerable number of people.

Relief that a number of Fianna Fáil members finally found the courage to reject the dominant culture in the dominant party. A culture fostered by its dominant figure, Charles Haughey.

The raw courage required should not be underestimated. That the vast majority of their party colleagues could not find it within themselves to cut the umbilical cord underlines this.