Redmond O Neill – A revolutionary socialist, internationalist and peoples
Champion
A Chairde,
Is a great honour to be here to remember with fondness and pride our friends
and comrade Redmond O Neill.
It is an opportunity to reflect on his contribution to life and politics and
on the struggle for freedom in Ireland – a goal that was close to his heart.
Let me begin by thanking the Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada for
allowing us to hold this event in the Bolívar Hall.
Redmond was an internationalist and enormously supportive of the efforts of
the Venezuelan peoples in their drive to create a new and better society.
He would be very pleased that we are here.
I want to acknowledge Ken Livingstone with whom Redmond worked for many
years.
I don’t know who had the greater influence on the other but their work in
support of working people in London and oppressed peoples around the world, in
Latin America and Palestine and Ireland and elsewhere was prodigious.
And a very special word of solidarity to Kate Hudson and to Redmond’s family,
his sisters Ann and Fidelma, his nieces and others with us tonight.
Redmond’s death left a huge gap in your lives, but as is evident from the
numbers here this evening, you are not alone.
A final word of thanks to the organising committee – as an organiser par
excellence Redmond would have been proud of your efforts.
I want to thank all of you for coming.
