Republican News · Thursday 20 February 2003

Denis 'Dinna' Fitzgerald

Denis 'Dinna' Fitzgerald, a long standing republican in County Kerry, passed away on 12 February, aged 84.

It is not easy to convey what Dinna Fitzgerald meant to republicanism in Tralee and Kerry. Dinna, like many others of his time, joined the IRA at a young age and because of his activities he was interned in the Curragh Prison Camp. Yet, despite his sufferings, he bore no grudge or held no bitterness towards his oppressors.

Dinna continued his republican activities into the 1950s and with his comrade and friend, Kevin Barry, set about reorganising the republican movement in the county.

He was supportive of the republican leadership in its peace strategy and was it not for people like Dinna we wouldn't be where we are today.

Just over two years ago, when Belfast republican Angelo Fusco was threatened with extradition, Dinna gave his life savings for bail before the court, such was his conviction.

When I stood for election in 1999, one of the first people to offer encouragement and advice was Dinna Fitz and I will always be grateful to him for it. Only recently, I met him on Rock Street, where we discussed different aspects of Council policy, because Dinna loved Tralee and its people, people like Christie and Dan O'Callaghan, who were comrades of his since his time in the Curragh, who passed away recently.

Throughout the last few years, Dinna watched many of his comrades and friends from the '40s pass away and he was always on hand to ensure that those old soldiers were not forgotten. He ensured that the Tricolour was placed on the coffin and someone said a few words by the graveside. It is a great honour for me to be here today with one of the stalwarts of Irish republicanism in this county.

Everyone here will have there own memories of Dinna, whether as a loving husband, as a brother, an uncle or a granduncle, but most of all people will remember him as a friend. He was everyone's friend and he will be sorely missed; he was one of the last of the '40s men and one of the last Auld Stocks of the Rock.

The republican family has lost a dear friend and comrade, Rock Street a beloved son, neither will ever be the same again.

We offer heartfelt and sincerest sympathy to Dinna's wife Chrissie, to his sister Beatrice and to his nieces and nephews and his extended family and all his friends.

I measc laochra na nGael a raibh sé.

BY Cllr CATHAL FOLEY