Mattie McGrath praises Austen Currie's civil rights legacy
Mattie McGrath spoke on behalf of the Rural Independent Group, welcoming Austen Currie and his family and praising Currie's role in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement. He highlighted Currie's 1968 squatting in a Caledon house and said those actions "lit that candle" that helped secure some fairness for minority Catholics and Nationalists.
Opening remarks
McGrath began by addressing the House on behalf of the Rural Independent Group and formally welcoming Austen Currie, his wife Anita and members of his family who were present.
Family in attendance
He named family members present in the gallery, mentioning Anita and children Estella, Katrina, Tualta and Austen and Eimear and indeed Eireann and Eireann and Kenny, acknowledging the personal nature of the day for Currie's relatives.
Civil rights activism recalled
McGrath recalled Currie as a leading figure in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement and said he co-founded the SELP as we know it. He described Currie becoming a poster boy of the movement in June 1968 when he bravely squatted in a house in Caledon in his home county of Tyrone.
Legacy for minority communities
McGrath argued that Currie's actions "lit that candle, they lit that spark" which he said "eventually ended up with some modicum of fairness for the minority Catholics and Nationalists in Northern Ireland around the rest of housing and many, many other ways as well." He framed Currie's work as contributing to advances in housing and fairness.
Political connections and public service
He said he had gotten to know Currie when Currie spent time in the State, recalling meetings in Tipperdorn when McGrath was a minister. McGrath also noted Currie was elected in Dublin and took part in a meeting during a presidential campaign.
Condolences and acknowledgements
McGrath described the occasion as a momentous day marked by sadness for Currie's wife and family and expressed the group's sympathies. He offered thanks and gratitude and named figures referenced in the speech, including co-founders and colleagues such as Gerry Fitt, John Hulman himself and Oberstraroel, Ian O'Shea.
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On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I am pleased to be able to say a few words today and to welcome Austen Currie and his wife Anita and her children Estella, Katrina, Tualta and Austen and Eimear and indeed Eireann and Eireann and Kenny. Austen was one of the leading figures in the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland who co-founded the SELP as we know. Austen became a poster by of the Northern Ireland civil rights movement in June 1968 when he bravely squatted in a house in Caledon in his home county of Tyrone and I have often visited that village and it stood on the big wall that surrounds the estate that divides it from Glasslock and County Monaghan where my wife actually worked in the early 80s. So the enormous bravery and courage that they had and as someone said, it's better, the late candle and haze, the light of one candle and of course the dark. They lit that candle, they lit that spark that eventually ended up with some modicum of fairness for the minority Catholics and Nationalists in Northern Ireland around the rest of housing and many, many other ways as well. And I am delighted I got to know him when he was here, I was doing a minister, I met him in a function or two in Tipperdorn and it was for Jews that he came to, that he did get elected in Dublin and indeed became an Alistair and indeed was a member of a meeting during the presidential campaign also. So I would just like to acknowledge the Royal Independence Group's sympathies and indeed thanks and gratitude for the Oberstraroel, Ian O'Shea. He worked so hard and with the co-founder of the SELP, Gerry Fitt, John Hulman himself and the autobiography says lots more I won't go into today but just it's a momentous day, tend to be sadness for his wife and family but it shows the respect he was held in this house and by the people of the Republic of Ireland. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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