Robin Hennessy RIP: anti-war activist, socialist and caring human being

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Tuesday December 04, 2007 10:35

by Fintan Lane

Yesterday afternoon, friends and family of Robin Hennessy gathered under an overcast sky in Kanturk graveyard to bid farewell to a stalwart of the anti-war movement and other social justice causes. Above all, we bid farewell to a man remembered for his enormous capacity for love and who was motivated in politics by his deep concern for the well-being of other human beings.

Robin Hennessy and Liz Tully in 2005

Robin, still a young man, died of a heart attack last week at his home in Clontarf.

His partner-in-life for over two decades, Liz Tully, predeceased him in April, following a long battle with cancer. It was clear to all that Robin missed Liz terribly and he struggled to deal with the grief of her loss. It always seemed as if he and Liz were indivisible. They loved each other hugely and, as one speaker pointed out at the humanist service held for Robin in Coolock on Saturday morning, people saw them almost as a bonded unit: it was always 'Liz and Robin' or 'Robin and Liz', though neither was a shadow of the other; both lived full lives, in unison, but with their own interests also.

Robin and Liz were central to the Fairview Against the War group that emerged to protest against the war plans of the Bush regime. Both were vital and energetic and they put their hearts and souls into the struggle against the murderous wars unleashed on the Middle East after 9/11. their passion was tangible. Both were also stalwart supporters of Mary Kelly as she went through the courts for her decommissioning of a US warplane at Shannon airport in early 2003. I remember one time, for example, meeting both of them at a stall for Mary in Ennis, Co. Clare; I had travelled from Cork to join them, but they had travelled from Dublin - and did so regularly for a period, while entreating others to participate. Their support for Mary was deeply rooted in a belief that those who raise their voices against injustice must stand together.

When Liz was diagnosed with cancer, Robin, though shocked, attuned very quickly to the reality of the situation and became a rock of support. His love for Liz was never clearer than during her last two years. To underline their bond, they married in a hospital ward during that time.

I've thought about Robin quite a bit since his death last week and I have found that it is impossible to remember him without a smile on his face. Robin was a highly intelligent man (he worked as research scientist in the Royal College of Surgeons), but, much more importantly, he was somebody who looked for the best in people and, though not naive, was an optimist with regard to the future of humankind.

Robin Hennessy will be remembered with much love and great fondness by anti-war activists throughout the country. He was a ray of light in all our lives.

Rest in peace, Robin.