MicheƔl Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig remembers Maurice Healy.

Maurice Healy
It’s hard to believe less than three weeks ago I was in Paris with Maurice Healy at an anti-fascist organized political event. I have many stories and over these last few days they have been going around in my head.

Our deep discussions on many topics like socialism, sectarianism, armed struggle, community engagement, political representation, abortion, the rise of fascism across Ireland and Europe, gay rights, engaging the loyalist community, the Catholic Church, political prisoners, United Ireland, trade unionism and the importance of international solidarity; so many late nights and long walks.

I remember I was asked a number of years ago to deliver a speech at the anti internment march in Belfast which is usually blocked off by the local British imperialist militia PSNI.

We put a speech together with the help of Tommy on the night before the march. I stayed in Derry that night with Cllr Gary Donnelly. Maurice and Gary decided in their wisdom that I should practice the speech in front of both of them while I stood on top of a stool in Gary’s kitchen. I spent, I would imagine, 3 hours standing on that stool practising my speech to the very early hoursšŸ˜©.

Maurice talked a lot about the importance of engaging with the working class loyalist community and how when we achieved a united Ireland this would help create a better Ireland for all of us.

I just can’t believe that Maurice is now gone, a man that lived his Republicanism through his daily life by his actions and respect for all.

Maurice my friend and comrade you have taught me so much and I will always always always miss youšŸ’”.


MicheƔl Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is an independent councillor on Donegal County Council.

Maurice Healy

MicheƔl Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig remembers Maurice Healy.

Maurice Healy
It’s hard to believe less than three weeks ago I was in Paris with Maurice Healy at an anti-fascist organized political event. I have many stories and over these last few days they have been going around in my head.

Our deep discussions on many topics like socialism, sectarianism, armed struggle, community engagement, political representation, abortion, the rise of fascism across Ireland and Europe, gay rights, engaging the loyalist community, the Catholic Church, political prisoners, United Ireland, trade unionism and the importance of international solidarity; so many late nights and long walks.

I remember I was asked a number of years ago to deliver a speech at the anti internment march in Belfast which is usually blocked off by the local British imperialist militia PSNI.

We put a speech together with the help of Tommy on the night before the march. I stayed in Derry that night with Cllr Gary Donnelly. Maurice and Gary decided in their wisdom that I should practice the speech in front of both of them while I stood on top of a stool in Gary’s kitchen. I spent, I would imagine, 3 hours standing on that stool practising my speech to the very early hoursšŸ˜©.

Maurice talked a lot about the importance of engaging with the working class loyalist community and how when we achieved a united Ireland this would help create a better Ireland for all of us.

I just can’t believe that Maurice is now gone, a man that lived his Republicanism through his daily life by his actions and respect for all.

Maurice my friend and comrade you have taught me so much and I will always always always miss youšŸ’”.


MicheƔl Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is an independent councillor on Donegal County Council.

1 comment:

  1. MicheƔl, thanks for sharing this on TPQ. His death was a shock and it was from you that I learned of it. I first met Maurice in 2000. His journey since then was neither direct or easy. I stayed with him overnight at his home a few years ago as he had asked me to speak along with Tommy McKearney at Newtowncunningham Orange Hall. As well as being intellectually deep he was also intellectually promiscuous, interested in a huge range of ideas. I had huge admiration for his mind. My wife and myself had sipped red wine in the same Paris a few months prior to Maurice being there. That has made the memories a little more poignant. Condolences to his family.

    ReplyDelete