REMEMBERING BIG JIM
The General Election is an essential bloodless national sport, and at the moment Ireland is just a week away from D Day to decide who will govern this state for the next 5 years. The present incumbents, a Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat coalition are fighting for their political lives against a rainbow group of Labour, Fine Gael and the Greens. Policy wise there is little to choose between the two alternatives, both offering a similar economic agenda to continue the present growth rates, and both highlighting issues like health and crime. At the end of the day most people will cast their vote on a personality basis, choosing at local level the candidate which most appeals.
I remember some years ago my interest in politics was stirred by the appearance of one Jim Kemmy on the local Limerick scene. Jim was a staunch independent socialist whose heart was firmly with the poor and dispossessed, and his voice was a breath of fresh air in the staid political scene of those days. Kemmy was a familiar sight in his early career standing outside Todds on Saturdays selling the radical Limerick Socialist magazine which he almost single handedly produced. The L.S. was a must read for an idealistic16 year old ,as it addressed real issues of real people ignored by the more established political personalities. Kemmy was fearless in those years, one article criticised the outlandish inauguration ceremony for the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Jeremiah Newman. I remember clearly the contrast Kemmy drew between the lowly carpenter from Nazereth,and the squandering of money on the ceremonial inauguration of His Eminence!
Another issue which ran and ran in the pages of the L.S. was the pittances paid to the staff at The Danes bakery, a then popular cake shop located in Post Office lane. Perhaps the most controversial piece I can recall from the L.S. archives was Jims obituary for local building magnate Sean Hanley, known locally as The Baron Hanley. The heading for the obit read NO POCKETS IN A SHROUD !
So impressed was I by big Jim that I canvassed for him during one election round, he was elected to the local council and subsequently also won a Dail seat. Jims political philosophy was a very practical form of socialism, and never became bogged down in ideology or political theory,he was a genuine man of the people with an interest in local history and the arts. When we set about opening a Christian coffee-bar we approached Jim Kemmy for some advice as regards garnering support from the local health board. Jim an agnostic by persuasion, not only gave us the advice we needed but also put his hand in his pocket and gave us a financial donation !
Politically I reluctantly parted company with Jim because of his pro-choice position on the abortion issue in later years. Often the Believer is torn between the humane people centred policies of the left as against the conservative position of the right on issues of sexual morality. There is no easy choice when we are compelled by the gospel to look after the poor and needy while also holding on to the Biblical stand on issues like homosexuality and abortion.Solomons wisdom is required before pencilling in that x on Polling Day.
Jim died after a painful illness in October1997 and I walked with hundreds of other admirers behind his hearse, as it made its way through the Limerick he loved to his final resting place at Mount Saint Laurence Cemetery. In death as in life Jim eschewed the trappings of religion going directly from the funeral parlour at Griffins to the burial place. At Jims request a recording of the song Beautiful Dreamer was played at the graveside, the words of that lilting melody took on a strange resonance as it echoed through the silent throng gathered to pay their last respects to the man who was Big Jim Kemmy.
I remember some years ago my interest in politics was stirred by the appearance of one Jim Kemmy on the local Limerick scene. Jim was a staunch independent socialist whose heart was firmly with the poor and dispossessed, and his voice was a breath of fresh air in the staid political scene of those days. Kemmy was a familiar sight in his early career standing outside Todds on Saturdays selling the radical Limerick Socialist magazine which he almost single handedly produced. The L.S. was a must read for an idealistic16 year old ,as it addressed real issues of real people ignored by the more established political personalities. Kemmy was fearless in those years, one article criticised the outlandish inauguration ceremony for the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Jeremiah Newman. I remember clearly the contrast Kemmy drew between the lowly carpenter from Nazereth,and the squandering of money on the ceremonial inauguration of His Eminence!
Another issue which ran and ran in the pages of the L.S. was the pittances paid to the staff at The Danes bakery, a then popular cake shop located in Post Office lane. Perhaps the most controversial piece I can recall from the L.S. archives was Jims obituary for local building magnate Sean Hanley, known locally as The Baron Hanley. The heading for the obit read NO POCKETS IN A SHROUD !
So impressed was I by big Jim that I canvassed for him during one election round, he was elected to the local council and subsequently also won a Dail seat. Jims political philosophy was a very practical form of socialism, and never became bogged down in ideology or political theory,he was a genuine man of the people with an interest in local history and the arts. When we set about opening a Christian coffee-bar we approached Jim Kemmy for some advice as regards garnering support from the local health board. Jim an agnostic by persuasion, not only gave us the advice we needed but also put his hand in his pocket and gave us a financial donation !
Politically I reluctantly parted company with Jim because of his pro-choice position on the abortion issue in later years. Often the Believer is torn between the humane people centred policies of the left as against the conservative position of the right on issues of sexual morality. There is no easy choice when we are compelled by the gospel to look after the poor and needy while also holding on to the Biblical stand on issues like homosexuality and abortion.Solomons wisdom is required before pencilling in that x on Polling Day.
Jim died after a painful illness in October1997 and I walked with hundreds of other admirers behind his hearse, as it made its way through the Limerick he loved to his final resting place at Mount Saint Laurence Cemetery. In death as in life Jim eschewed the trappings of religion going directly from the funeral parlour at Griffins to the burial place. At Jims request a recording of the song Beautiful Dreamer was played at the graveside, the words of that lilting melody took on a strange resonance as it echoed through the silent throng gathered to pay their last respects to the man who was Big Jim Kemmy.
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
GERARD O'SHEA
