John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I offer heartfelt thanks to all involved in the commemorations of the First Dáil yesterday. It was a magnificent and fitting event. I was privileged to be part of it as a Member of the Seanad. I never thought that would happen. The Seanad was recently saved by a referendum but if it was not for the determination and steel of those people 100 years ago, there might have been neither a Dáil nor a Seanad and that is worth remembering. It was also a moving and personal occasion for me because I grew up hearing about one Member of the First Dáil, a man named Phil Shanahan, from a small place, Foilmacduff in Hollyford, County Tipperary. My late mother, Judy, was my teacher and instructor with regard to Phil. Her family, the Daverns were fast friends of the Shanahans in Hollyford. I was delighted to meet Phil's great grandniece, Emer Fhatherta, yesterday, who was there to remember Phil. My mother told me of his lifelong commitment and the sacrifices he made, about his family members, specifically his sister, Sarah, his hunger strike and his generosity. He went from being a comfortable publican in Dublin to his death in November 1931 in poor circumstances. He was in Jacob's Factory with MacDonagh. His pub in the heart of Monto was a home from home and a meeting place for other Republicans. I spent last Saturday night with his grandnephew, Ramie Shanahan, in the same place where Phil returned to spend his last years before his death. I saw the treasure trove of documents, papers, memorabilia and talked into the night.

It struck me that in the Seanad, we should consider some way that we might be a focal point to remember, honour and promote a better understanding of the lives of these people, their motivations, family circumstances, interests, places of origin, families and comrades. The downgrading of history was mentioned yesterday in the Mansion House. Such a focus as this, possibly carried out throughout the year, could reignite the curiosity and interest of the young and not so young in the lives of these ordinary people who did extraordinary things and gave us a legacy that we have a responsibility to live up to. I would be happy to support any such initiative and ask the Leader if he will consider something along these lines.

Phil was a Teachta Dála for Dublin Harbour. He beat the unbeatable Alfie Byrne to take that seat but there were four other Tipperary men. Pierce McCan died from the flu in March that year. Séamus Burke went on to be a Minister in Cosgrave's Government.There was also Joseph McDonagh, brother of Thomas, and P.J. Moloney who, like me, was from Tipperary Town. He had his home burnt out. They are minor anecdotes of the lives of what I call ordinary people who did extraordinary things. We might consider some ways throughout the year to give some impetus to it.