Tribute to Comrade Des O’Hagan

Dessie’s life was the Workers Party going back to the 1950’s when he was imprisoned in Crumlin Road prison for four years. Over that long period until the time of his death Dessie never wavered in his committment to our ultimate objective of a Democratic Secular Socialist Republic,  A Unitary state. He played a most significant part in the transformation of a narrow nationalist movement into a class conscious socialist Party.

Founder member of the Civil Rights Association, he was foremost in confronting terrorism and in the struggle to realise Tone’s ideal of ” the unity of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter”.

He despised all those who would seek to divide workers, for him the the unity of the working class of all religions and none was the means to the Republic. Interned in Long Kesh he still continued to play a vital role in the struggle for Civil Rights.

In recent years and most especially since the death of his much loved wife, companion and comrade, Marie, his health had declined. Indeed the decline became more evident in recent months when his physical health took a serious turn for the worse. Despite all this he never lost the passion and idealism which drove him in his political struggle.

We are organising a tribute to Dessie O’ Hagan in Liberty Hall , Dublin on Saturday 20th of June commencing at 3.00 pm and ending at 7.00pm. The event will include speeches from a panel of Dessie’s closest comrades with contributions from family and others. This will be interspersed with music organised by Frank Hayes.