Hughie Geraghty: Hughie Geraghty, who has died aged 61, was a lifelong trade unionist and member of the Labour Party.
He began his career at the CIÉ works at Inchicore, Dublin, and spent 13 years as secretary to the CIÉ group of unions at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Liam Berney, industrial officer of Ictu, this week said, "Hughie's work was characterised by absolute integrity, honesty and the ability to provide a sound analysis of the most complex issues. It was these qualities that earned him the total respect of the unions and workers in the CIÉ companies."
A former colleague, Eamon Devoy, assistant general secretary of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, said: "He was loyal to his socialist and trade union beliefs; his word was his bond."
Born at the Coombe Hospital Dublin, on May 25th, 1945, he was one of the five sons of Thomas Geraghty and his wife Lily (née O'Neill). His father had been active in the republican movement while his mother was associated with the Communist Party; both parents subsequently became members of the Labour Party. The family lived in Cornmarket in the Liberties, and when Hughie was nine moved to Curlew Road, Drimnagh.
He was educated by the Christian Brothers at Francis Street and Drimnagh Castle, and later attended Emmet Road technical school. In 1961 he began his apprenticeship as a fitter/turner at CIÉ in Inchicore, where he worked at his trade for 25 years.
As a boy he was a member of Na Fianna Éireann, the republican scout movement, and was scout of the year in 1958. He was a keen cyclist and travelled on cycling holidays to Donegal, Kerry and Connemara. He also enjoyed Irish traditional music and attended the first of many fleadhanna cheoil at Gorey, Co Wexford, in 1961.
In 1962, and with three of his brothers, he joined the National Progressive Democrats, led by Noel Browne. In 1963 he helped found Scéim na gCeardcumann, the organisation that promoted the involvement of trade unionists in rural development. The following year he took part in an international student work camp at Glencolumbkille, Co Donegal.
He joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1964, and was a founder member of the Dublin District Junior Workers' Committee. Among the causes he supported were the AEU apprentices' strike in Britain and the Irish building workers' strike for a 40-hour week.
In 1967 he became the youngest shop steward in Dublin when he was elected to the position at the Inchicore works. That year also he became a delegate to the Dublin Trades Council.
He held various positions in the AEU and in 1971 became convenor of CIÉ maintenance shop stewards. By now a member of the Labour Party, he was a founder member of the Crumlin branch in the early 1970s.
In 1972 he led a demonstration of CIÉ workers in protest at the Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry. He was also active in supporting British coalminers and print workers in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1987 he was elected Dublin district president of the AEU and in 1990 was granted the union's award of merit in recognition of his 23 years as an office-holder. In 1992 he was appointed secretary to the CIÉ group of unions at Ictu, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.A member of the Irish Labour History Society, he had a particular interest in the Invincibles. He was elected president of the society in 2005. His book, William Patrick Partridge and His Times, was published in 2003.
He married Mary Hughes in 1968. Predeceased by his wife in 2002, he is survived by his daughter Clare, and sons Kevin and Seán.
Hugh Geraghty: born May 25th, 1945; died March 6th, 2007.