We are delighted to be welcoming Des Geraghty to the Irish Centre on 30th November 2023 for a talk arranged in association with the Tyneside Branch of the Historical Association.Des will be in conversation with Connal Parr covering a range of topics from the great characters he has known in Dublin over the years to his latest book, ‘Dare to Dream … Of An Island of Equals’. We’re hoping he will give us a turn on his flute as well.
Des Geraghty was born in the historic ‘Liberties’ area of Dublin. He is a former President of SIPTU, Ireland’s largest trade union having spent 34 years as a full timer, in a variety of different positions. He represented the union on the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU); and represented SIPTU and ICTU on numerous national bodies including the National Economic and Social Council and the National Competitiveness Council. From 1992 to 1994 he represented Dublin as a member of the European Parliament.
Des i a former member of the Board of RTE, TG4 (the Gaelic TV station), and the ESB Networks. He was elected by the staff of the Abbey Theatre to their shareholders’ Board and was involved in the restructuring of the Theatre. He is a former Chair of the Affordable Homes Partnership. And from 2010 to 2019, during difficult economic years, he was a Board member of the Central Bank of Ireland.
Des is also a musician and folklorist and since retiring from SIPTU he has written, directed and performed in a number of music, song and poetry productions in both English and Irish. He is currently the Chair of the Clé Club, a traditional music club based in Liberty Hall, SIPTU’s Dublin headquarters.
Des has participated in the making of many Irish TV and radio documentaries. He is the author of Luke Kelly: A Memoir (1994); and, with photographer Liam Blake, 40 Shades of Green (2007). He also co-authored a book which was used on SIPTU Education courses, European Works Councils: Information and Consultation Rights (1997). His most recent publication is We Dare to Dream… of an Island of Equals (2021).
