Comrade Paddy Fitzsimons, who died earlier this week, was a lifelong socialist, republican, trade unionist, and staunch member of the Workers’ Party.
Paddy was born and grew up in Dominic Street in Dublin’s north inner city during an era characterised by Victorian tenements, poverty, widespread unemployment, and mass emigration. It was in this atmosphere of scarce and precarious employment that Paddy entered into the world of work.
Paddy eventually found a permanent job in the then-quaintly titled Department of Posts and Telegraphs. He was employed in the Telegraphs section, working on the infrastructure for the telephone system. He remained with that employment through its many changes from the P&T to Telecom Éireann, then through privatisation to Eircom and through a number of asset-stripping private owners. Paddy held very strong, but largely unprintable, opinions of these privateers and carpet baggers. He was implacably opposed to the whole concept of privatisation deriving from Thatcher in the UK but enthusiastically supported by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Progressive Democrats in Ireland. He opposed the privatisation in principle as a robbery by the elite of public wealth, as well as from a practical stance; as demonstrated over the last 45 years, privatisation just doesn’t work.
Paddy was a trade unionist throughout his entire life. He was a dedicated member of the CWU but never sought the limelight or any personal gain from his union membership. For him, trade union membership was a matter of class unity, class solidarity, and a vital weapon in the struggle for a better society. In the 1960s, many years before his employment in the P&T, Paddy was a member of Scéim na gCeardchumann as part of his work within the trade union movement and the Republican Movement. While admitting to not being a fíor-gaeilgeoir at that time, Paddy felt it was his duty to do what he could for this cause, participating not only in the Dublin-based events but also in the work done to support the self-help cooperatives in Glen Colmcille in Donegal. Later, he was a firm supporter of the demands of Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta and of the subsequent campaigns that it generated.
Paddy joined the Republican Movement in the 1960s. He was part of that younger generation that pulled a moribund and narrowly nationalist Sinn Féin back to its republican roots of Tone and Connolly, and then forward to the development of the Workers’ Party. Paddy was an enthusiastic activist. Whether selling papers in pubs or public places, canvassing, leafleting, attending public meetings or demonstrations, Paddy loved the interaction with people. He enjoyed the opportunity to debate with people and to develop their political consciousness. Even in the most hostile surroundings or in the most heated situations, Paddy stood his ground and would never allow himself to be shouted down by any individual or faction.
Paddy had a rounded view of politics. He truly believed in the concept that the working class deserves both bread and roses. He had a deep interest in all matters cultural including cinema, theatre, or literature. Paddy was a voracious reader and had a large and very eclectic collection of books, which he was always prepared to share with comrades. Above all Paddy loved singing. He had a great voice and a vast repertoire of songs from various genres. He had a great store of working class songs, both Irish and international, and had a particular affection for the songs of Dominic Behan. With his comrade Rita Whelan he enlivened, and extended, very many social and political sessions. Paddy also sang in a more formal setting and was a member of the choir of the People’s College for many years.
Paddy’s special devotion was to his family: his wife Clare, daughters Niamh, Dearbhaile and Aoibheann; his grandchildren, and all the wider family. He was immensely proud of their independence, their achievements, their contributions to their own communities.
The Workers’ Party wishes to extend our deepest sympathy to Clare, Niamh, Dearbhaile and Aoibheann and the wider family at this particularly sad time. We can truly say that we will never see his like again, but we can also say with equal conviction that his was a life worth living and a life lived with true conviction.