One of Irelands great voices has been silenced by the inevitable reaper..
Some folks think without doing, while others do without thinking. Brendan Halligan not only did both but accomplished them with a sense of class and inclusiveness.
His accomplishments were legion. The direction in which Brendan was to travel in life was first manifest when, as one of a team of 4 working-class lads they clubbed together to put one another through university. When the first qualified and was employed he helped pay for the next one. In this way 4 fine talents were unleashed, which otherwise might have withered without note.
Brendan was Secretary of the Labour Party for many years. In many respects, the Labour Party reached its peak of political influence during his tenure. He worked closely with the Party leader Brendan Corish in leading the party into government from 1973 to 1977.
He served both as an MEP and as a Dail Deputy.
He set up his own business, CIPA, and conducted public affairs on behalf of a series of blue-chip companies.
He was Chairman of Bord na Mona for 10 years, overseeing the greatest rescue job ever accomplished in an Irish Semi-State.
He Chaired SEAI for 5 years.
With the help of a friend, Niall Green, he set up Irelands leading independent think tank, the Institute of European Affairs. They bought the premises in North Great Georges St. They took the risk on themselves because Brendan believed that Ireland needed a body which would help Ireland understand and influence the EU, and be a profound connection between both.
For his work in bringing Europe and Ireland closer together, Brendan as honoured with an adjunct professorship at the University of Limerick.
In his sixties Brendan went back to University to study and qualify in old Irish. He was this extraordinary apparent contradiction, a profound lover of everything Irish, as well as passionate Europhile. We were all delighted to be in his presence when he was awarded the Legion D’Honeur by the French Ambassador.
Brendan could appreciate how the trends in world affairs were unfolding. He set up the Irish China Institute to encourage connections with the worlds emerging economic leader. He celebrated China’s and Deng Jaoping achievements in lifting 800 million out of poverty.
Since it’s inception Brendan sat on the Board of Mainstream Renewable Power. He was appointed Strategic manager of SuperNode when it was set up in 2018.
To Brendan family was everything, and like all grandfathers took enormous pleasure from interacting with his grandchildren. He loved his wine, football of all hues, but particularly the Dubs. He died before they could do 6 in a row, something that would have brought him utmost pleasure.
He was the very best of friends and mentor.
When some people die it’s like a little hill gets blown away. When Brendan Halligan died it was like a mountain being washed into the sea.