GERRY O'HANLON:GERRY O'HANLON from Mullaghbawn, south Armagh, who has died after a long illness, was a major figure in the world of traditional music, a dedicated social worker, a respected trade unionist and a deeply principled socialist.
A fine singer, who appreciated the musical richness of his home area, importantly, he was able to bring other singers together. He helped found the annual Sliabh Gullion Festival of Traditional Singing in Mullaghbawn, bringing singers from all over Ireland together. He also helped establish both the Stray Leaf Folk Club and the Tí Chulainn cultural centre there. For years he was a board member of the Dublin-based Irish Traditional Music Archive, serving for a time as treasurer.
In politics, he was a socialist, strongly opposed to sectarianism. When republicanism split in 1970, he joined the more left-wing OfficialIRA. In 1974 he stood for the Westminster seat of South Down. His best known opponent was Enoch Powell, the former Conservative minister, against whom he polled over 2,300 votes.
In 1976 the Provisional IRA in south Armagh massacred 11 Protestant mill workers at Kingsmills. O’Hanlon publicly condemned the murders, a courageous step in one of the Provisional IRA’s strongest areas. In the 1990s, he resigned from the Workers Party, but kept his socialist faith. Over recent years, he had raised funds to buy medical supplies for the Cuban health system.
Born on June 4th, 1946, he was the third eldest child and second son to Paddy O’Hanlon, and his wife Peg (née Grant). Both parents were natives of Mullaghbawn. His father was a butcher and IRA veteran who had fought on the republican side in the Civil War, and lost a leg in the conflict.
O’Hanlon was educated at the local primary school and St Colman’s College, Newry. For many years, his political commitment took priority over gaining educational qualifications and building a career. At one stage he managed a shoe factory that was being run as a workers’ co-op after the owners closed it down.
In the early 1980s he became a social worker in Newry. Many of his clients were Travellers, whose cause he championed fearlessly, despite risking dismissal. During that time he was a branch officer of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) trade union.
In his last years he was called in eight times for lung transplants, but each was cancelled. He was aware his illness was terminal, and had made arrangements for his funeral. He died peacefully, while playing solitaire on his laptop.
One of his favourite songs, Peace in Erin, by 19th-century Co Antrim schoolmaster Hugh McWilliams, was sung at his funeral. Its words express the principles by which he lived:
Were all mankind inclined like me,
To live in peace and unity,
No more contention there would be,
Among the men of Erin.
He is survived by his wife, Rita; daughters Aoife and Ciana; son Cormac; his five grandchildren; and his five sisters. He was predeceased by his brother Paddy.
Gerry O’Hanlon: born June 4th, 1946, died October 6th, 2012