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

by Mark Nixon Tue Mar 29, 2011 04:31 marknixon at clear dot net dot nz

We were greatly shocked to hear about Robin's death back in 2007. A number of colleagues and myself, here in New Zealand, knew Robin both as a friend and in a professional capacity in terms of his research interests.

I am travelling to Ireland in June 2011 and I would be interested in knowing the whereabouts of where he is buried. Additionally, while I was in reasonably regular contact with Robin regarding his work, the last time I last saw Robin was over an ale in 1999, so I would be keen to share an ale with anyone interested so I can learn more about his activities in the last years of his life.

by G.D.Flynn - International Republican Sun Dec 09, 2007 15:21 flynnfacultasliterum at hotmail dot com 188 burghsliussingel 3086 vg Rotterdam

My Family, send our deepest Condolences, to the Family of
Robin Hennessy
A man of Great Principle, and Personal Courage, I leave you all with a Trojans
Farewell,
" That the Spirits of the Great, The Wise and the Good, seldom die with their
Bodies."
Rest Robin, in the Arms of Orpheus.
G.D. Flynn

by John Kelly - Independent Sun Dec 09, 2007 14:57 june_kelly_2 at hotmail dot com 0861963134

FOR OUR DEAR FRIEND ROBIN - Written and presented by John Kelly at Robin's Removal Service in Dublin on 1st December 2007

My wife and I became close friends with Robin and Liz following upon their having shown interest to
June’s display of photographs of the terrible destruction wrought by the NATO bombing of former Yugoslavia effected on the supposed grounds of the need for “humanitarian intervention”. This was in Dublin at a peace rally towards the end of 1999.
Robin and Liz hated war and they hated the lies which accompanied war. As anti war activists they came in for the inevitable flak which is generated when men and women tell the truth in what Gore Vidal recently described as “The Fictional World of Today”.
We enjoyed Robin’s company and had a lot in common with him in terms of our preferences for various writers, composers and film makers. Robin and I also shared a common bond in terms of the way we looked at the world generally.
Robin was a man who took his responsibilities seriously both in his working and personal life. I am reminded of words spoken by one of the central characters in the American writer Nelsen Algren’s novel “The Man With the Golden Arm” in an expression of his personal philosophy . “We are all”, he said, “responsible for one another”. These are words, I believe, which define the manner in which Robin and his beloved Liz chose to live their lives.
During the course of Liz’s tragic illness the stress Robin endured was horrendous and with her death it was as though he had been cut adrift. We remember Robin as a sensitive, thoughtful man with a natural disposition towards helping others . He also never hesitated in putting himself forward to defend men and women who he felt had been the victims of injustice.
Robin’s time on earth he availed of to the best of purposes. He was always there when we needed encouragement to proceed during some very difficult times we have experienced in our own lives in recent years. It was just one of his many qualities this unselfish concern for others.
We will miss him very much.
John Kelly
County Westmeath 1.12.2007

by Michael Birmingham Fri Dec 07, 2007 15:04

It is hard to believe that Robin is also now gone. I remember him always bringing a sense of kindness, calmness and understanding. He had a passionate concern for social justice and enormous political knowledge, attached so such an encouraging and empowering personality. Robin will be such a huge loss to the struggle for an Ireland guided by a vision of humanity and justice.

But I also always thought of Robin with Liz, partly because they seemed so close, but largely because all these things i say of Robin i would also say of Liz. In the face of the horrors that humanity inflicts on itself, it is comforting to know that there are people such as Robin and Liz working behind the scenes also ensuring that humanity's beauty get's a look in.

Robin and Liz will be remembered. I have no doubt that many of the wonderful things they did will continue to do good though more silently - a result of Robin and Liz's effective and sustained work for a better world, and to their humility.

by Mary Kelly Wed Dec 05, 2007 09:27

from Scott Ritter, Chief UN weapons inspector in Iraq 1991-1998

" I am deeply saddened by the death of Robin Hennessy. Robin and Liz were a great inspiration for everyone involved in the struggle for peace. I greatly enjoyed Robin's company during my recent visit to Dublin, and will at least be able to find solace in those memories as I mourn his passing. Please pass my deepest sympathies to Robin's colleagues and friends."

Denis Halliday , former Assistant Secretary General and Humanitarian Aid Co-ordinator in Iraq
" Maybe there is more to certain loving partnerships
than many of us experience. If he believed it - I hope they are now
reunited."

Curtis Doebbler, International human rights lawyer
"Robin's death like Liz's is a great loss for those who strive for
justice, I feel warm inside to have known such sincerely committed
persons."

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Catholic Worker/Ploughshares Wed Dec 05, 2007 05:51

Thanx Fintan for both the article and the photo.

Unfotunately, I could not be at either Liz or Robin's funerals. First in Australia and now in London a the times. It was reassuring that other friends were there. Knowing folks were gathering in Dublin in memory of Robin over the past days inspired to me to drag my sorry ass out of bed and make my church going comeback at a predominantly African congrgation in Dalston. It was Advent Sunday and the reading was "we shall beat our swords into ploughshares..."

My last memory of Robin was while I was taking a cigar break outside the homeless shelter on Aungier St. He came cycling down the road on a bright sunny day at the end of last year. I thought "I'm busted, a lefty doctor on a bicycle. I'm bound to get a health warning here!" But all I got was his broad smile gentle interaction and an absence of judgement or moral superiority! He was a wonderful man a great combination of gentleness and compassion.

Both he and Liz provided essential solidarity for those of us who had taken nonviolent direct action at Shannon and were being left hung out to dry. Over those long stressful 3 1/2 years and three trials they were always supportive, staunch and genuinely concerned with both our legal fate and present welfare. They are sorely missed by many of us.

by TD - Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign Tue Dec 04, 2007 19:13

Got to know Liz and Robin during the trial of Mary Kelly in Ennis, like Mary and the Pitstops' they choose to resist and do something and not allow their souls, whatever, to die "ungodly in an armed madhouse."

Besides them, is this not the best epitaph of all, for all of us, in the future?. They will not be forgotten.

by DM - Labour Party Tue Dec 04, 2007 17:47

...........................

by Mary Kelly Tue Dec 04, 2007 15:32

Robin was a very special loving person. He and Liz spent much of their lives fighting injustice worldwide, and more recently dedicated their time to exposing the complicity of the Irish government in illegal wars.
Combined, they had an amazing fount of knowledge and wisdom, and were an inspirational example of passionate engagement with their beliefs.
They recognised the importance of supporting those of us on trial for many and varied actions at Shannon. That support was practical and visionary ; they have left to us a wealth of practical knowledge and connections to other deeply caring citizens at home and far afield.
Initially we met through the peace camp. I am deeply grateful to have know these two exceptionally good and decent people.

by friend Tue Dec 04, 2007 14:22

I always understood that Robin was an atheist - which is why he opted for a humanist ceremony rather than a religious one.

by Deirdre Clancy - Former Pitstop Ploughshares Tue Dec 04, 2007 14:11

It is hard to imagine anyone with more of a zest for life than Robin.

I bumped into him several times during the summer of 2007 on the streets of Dublin; for a while I was living in Harold's Cross and had to pass by the Royal College of Surgeons daily. Even after Liz's death, when his grief was so profound, he greeted me - and everyone else, usually - with an enormous, child-like grin. When he talked about Liz, he was refreshingly open about how he felt. His eyes often filled with tears as he spoke about the depth of his love for Liz, and of how much he missed her.

During a long telephone conversation I had with Robin soon after Liz's death, he related that he was finding huge comfort in eastern spirituality and Indian music. He had a daily meditation practice. The priest in Kanturk yesterday related to the congregation that Robin went up for a blessing at mass once after Liz's death, and seemed to think this was an indication that Robin's soul may have been won for the Roman Catholics! I think it more likely that Robin, big-hearted as he was, asked for the blessing in a spirit of all-embracing ecumenism, a sense of tolerance and openness toward all belief systems. It's a foregone conclusion that any Creator (and Robin seemed to believe in a universal creative force) would embrace a spirit like Robin's without a second thought, priest or no priest, dogma or no dogma.

I like to believe Liz and Robin are together now, organising a revolution; that as we speak, they are agitating for the reorganisation of the many mansions of heaven there to ensure they are as evenly distributed as is possible.

Robin and Liz, RIP.

by Chrissie Tue Dec 04, 2007 14:00

It's amazing how much good can be done in one life; much more by loving partners working together. They didn't live as long as we could have wished, but left great examples of living a in principled and conscientious way. Their lifelong causes go on, and we go on supporting them.

by Damien Moran Tue Dec 04, 2007 13:17

Thank you for this Fintan. I also regret not being at Liz and Robin's funerals. Tim and I recalled fond memories of them both at the weekend in Warsaw. I remember them both dearly and am grateful for the support and inspiration they gave me while I was awaiting trial.
Regards and much peace to you all.

by paul o toole Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:51

Robin and Liz's untimley departure is a shock to us all. Liz Tully, in the throes of the debilitating agony brought on by her illness always greeted me with 'how are you'...There are no words to adequately describe the energy and enthusiasm with which Liz and Robin brought to the lives of those priveleged enough to have known them.
It is hard to believe that either are gone, I find it impossible to believe they are both gone. Robin told me that the day he and liz were sent to Vincents for tests that they had a good ided what was up and he told me that ..'I immediately comitted myself completely, no matter what the cost'. And they allowed all of us to share their journey... to its ultimate conclusion.
No one suspected that Robin would follow the love of his life so soon, but if a heart can be so badly broken so life in this world becomes impossible to bear without that love, then it might help make some sense for the rest of us left behind in need of explanations.
Robin and Liz will be remembered for their tireless work in the field of human rights spanning three decades which culminated in 'Fairview against the war' and it's support for direct activists, whom both Liz and Robin rightly pionted out would be 'ignored' by all unless they got support.
These are especially trying times for all involved in working for domestic and global justice, and the loss of one so bent to this thankless call is devistating, but to loose two, is unbelievable.
...It is as dear friends they will be missed the most by all who happened to be so fortunate as to have stumbled across their path on our shared journey.
Rob and Liz...I hope you've found peace at last.

by Davy Carlin Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:18

Reading such really makes me appreciate both life {as on so many occasions I may well have gone from this world also} and also how one should attempt to use such time here to attempt to effect change.

I believe that there is no contradiction in attempting to live ones dreams, to experience close and beautiful friendships and relationships with others together, while time apart for eaches own interests {as it seems Robin and Liz had} - while attempting to work for the betterment for those even more in need - .

Humans can be so brutal, but fortunately there are those with humanity who attempt to shine a light of hope to others - even at the darkest of times.

Indeed to take something out of life – but the heart and belief to put much more back into our short journeys

I never knew them personally but in heart and mind, I can, in my own small way, understand part their lives

Robin and Liz - Rest in Peace

Davy Carlin

by Edward Horgan Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:48

I regret I was unable to make it to Robin's funeral due to attending Stop the War peace conference in London over the weekend, and the need to monitor a CIA plane N71PG at Shannon airport on the day of the burial.
Robin and Liz were dedicated supporters of the peace movement and tireless workers towards justice. We will all miss them, but peace and justice issues have benefitted from their all too brief time with us.
Many people spend their long lives pursuing their own self interests. The short lives of Liz and Robin have been an inspiration to many and their humanitarian efforts have been substantial.

I have no doubt that they are resting in peace together.