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Des O’Neill (1926 - 2020)
REPUBLICANS in Dublin and
throughout Ireland were deeply saddened to learn of the death of
Des O’Neill of Raheny, Dublin on September 14 at the age of 93.
Des was born in 1926, a native of Kilmessan, Co Meath. He became
aware of the struggle for a 32-County Ireland and Republicanism
through his father Mark and in the 1940s from Navan (and
Leitrim) Republican John L McCormack with whom he campaigned for
Republican prisoners.
He moved to Dublin and joined
the Russell Cumann of Sinn Féin, Mountjoy Square in the early
1950s, His comrades included Ruairí and Seán Ó Brádaigh and
Éamonn Mac Thomáis. He moved to Raheny in the early 1960s and
became involved in the Jackie Griffith Cumann. Staying steadfast
with the Movement after the split in 1969, for years he sold The
United Irishman and An Phoblacht all over Dublin.
At the height of the war in the
Six Occupied Counties he organised for children to stay in the
Raheny area for a break. All his life he was very active
in raising funds for Republican prisoners and their dependants
through An Cumann Cabhrach and later CABHAIR (Irish Republican
Prisoners Dependants Fund).
Des never missed the annual
Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown. Other comrades at this
time included Dáithi Ó Conaill, James Toner (Donegal) and Paddy
Fox and Johnny Galvin (Swords). Des was a steward at the funeral
of neighbour and IRA Volunteer Patrick Cannon in 1976 where he
witnessed gardaí attack mourners. He rarely missed the annual
commemoration at the grave of Vol Cannon in Balgriffin.
Des married his late wife Teresa
in 1960 and they had three sons and three daughters. He worked
in the ESB for over 40years and in 1972 at Ballymun ESB he led a
walkout to the British Embassy the morning after Bloody Sunday.
He always felt he had a black mark against him from management
after this.
He was a founder member of St
Monica’s GAA Club in 1964 and was an active member until his
death. A dedicated member of the local community, he had the
title of Mayor of Edenmore. A very proud Republican, he stayed
true to Sinn Féin Poblachtach in 1986.
In 2019 he was the Leinster
Honoree at the CABHAIR Annual Testimonial Dinner. The
presentation was made by Paddy and the late Peig King with whom
he worked on behalf of the Republican Movement in the Raheny
area for many years. He laid the wreath at the monument to Wolfe
Tone at the annual pilgrimage to the grave of the father of
Irish Republicanism in 2019.
The Republican Movements extends
deepest sympathy to the O’Neill family on the death of this
devoted family man, loyal friend and comrade and hard-working
member of the community.
Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí dá
anam uasail.
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