Sean Kenny, Birmingham
[Sean Kenny was an active member of the Connolly Association in Birmingham from 1961 onward. Below is a copy of a letter that he sent to Anthony Coughlan in 2005 in response to a query from the latter re his memories of Desmond Greaves.]
42 Lower Higley Close, Quinton, Birmingham
11 September 2005
Dear Anthony,
How kind of you to write and ask my opinion of Desmond as I knew and remember him. I was 31 years old and working as a Shop Steward at British Leyland when I first made contact for the Connolly Association. This was at a public meeting held at The Civic Hall, Digbeth, Birmingham, in the spring of 1961. Perhaps you may remember it as you spoke at the meeting yourself.
I was greatly impressed as I was new to politics and had never met such progressive Irish people before. Soon after that I joined the C.A. and started to try and form a branch here. I was working nightshifts at that time. I did enrol some members, the most notable being Luke Kelly [1940-1984, Irish folk singer, later one of the founders of “The Dubliners” group; at this time he was involved with the Jubilee Singers, run by Mrs Thomson, wife of Professor George Thomson, Professor of Greek at Birmingham and Irish scholar]. We began to sell the “Democrat” around various pubs and dancehalls.
I found this city very right-wing in politics and Irish people very indifferent to us. In spite of public meetings and speaking in the “Bull Ring” every Sunday evening, we found little support for our programme. Desmond seemed very perturbed at this and was quite intolerant to me and our members at this time. I feel that he did not understand our immaturity at this period. He used to wax lyrical about the Manchester Branch of the Association at that time and compared them to us. He appeared not to suffer fools gladly. This greatly undermined our confidence to attempt any political work.
The work of the branch continued, however, with Desmond and other speakers coming from London from time to time to address us and sell the “Irish Democrat”. I recall one evening Desmond and I set out to cover the Aston and Erdington areas. It was Saturday and I had worked a five-night shift. We entered this pub and asked permission to sell the paper. We sold some copies in the Bar and when we had done the barman, who was Irish, said “Have you been in the back room?” We said No, and he replied, “There’s plenty of rebels in there. You should sell a lot.” I dashed in shouting “Irish Democrat”, with Desmond behind me. Low and behold, the room was full of Indians! The barman laughed his head off. Desmond however was relentless in selling the paper and at 9.45 p.m. we were just ending our sales in another Pub when “Last Orders” was called. Desmond said, “Let us get go to the next pub quickly and do another sale.” I replied, “Desmond, I’m getting two pints for me and a whiskey for you” and the sales ended there and then.
I find it difficult to assess Desmond as a person. Politically, I feel he was a genius, and he dedicated his entire life to the Irish people and our Nation owes him a great deal. I feel that he lived the life he chose. I recall one Christmas asking him what he was doing on Christmas Day and he said, “I shall spend the day reading a book.” I thought this rather sad. He was probably the greatest admirer James Connolly ever had and his entire life was in pursuit of Connolly’s ideals. I found him at times to be a little overpowering and brusque, but I did not know him all that well, only when he came to Birmingham or when I went to London. I can honestly say that I was very fond of Desmond. On my Mother’s death he wrote me a very moving letter of condolence which I still have.
I am still a member of the Connolly Association and remember Desmond with gratitude for the political education he gave me. Thank you once again for asking me to contribute to Desmond’s memory. Long may his life’s work continue.
Yours sincerely,
Sean Kenny