11 minute read
Jack Roche: A True Friend of LEADER
By MAURA WALSH IRD Duhallow CEO
While we were still reminiscing and ‘’ag dul síar ar aistir” IRD Duhallow fé Jerry Sheehan, in the days following his funeral we got the sad news of the death of our sitting Board member and former Chair Jack Roche.
Jack was the first serving Director of IRD Duhallow to die in service, which meant that he was well known to all the staff. He joined IRD Duhallow as a Cork County Councillor in 1994. From his first Board meeting, Jack showed his enormous capacity to follow the agenda having fully briefed himself on all the issues beforehand.
He gave generously of his time first serving on the Agriculture Working Group and was a champion of the smallholders of Western Duhallow in particular. He was elected Chair of that working groups that same year.
Jack was a very active community representative when he no longer sat on Cork County Council after 21 years’ service there. He was elected to IRD Duhallow Board repeatedly to represent Western Duhallow Communities and chaired our community forum and Community Development Working Group. He was of course elected Vice-Chair and then Chairman of the Board and appointed to represent IRD Duhallow on our National LEADER Network. After a short time, he was elected Chairman of the Network and appointed to the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD). After a years’ service, he was elected President of ELARD, a position he held for the full term of three years. He won the hearts and minds of the entire LEADER community and when the European Commission representative suggested that ELARD play a prominent role in supporting the then Eastern Bloc countries who were in the process of application to join the E.U. Jack stepped up as ELARD President and took the LEADER message to Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. He received the support of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the then Minister Éamon Ó’Cuív. It was a prestigious role for Ireland to hold and Ireland was well recognised by the Commission as being the forerunners then in our implementation of LEADER and was the primary example of LEADER best practice in Europe.
Jack was honoured and recognised across Europe as the voice of the volunteer and the volunteer-led Local Action Groups. We have received condolences from right across Europe and I think he would be rightly chuffed to know that.
Jack brought a much-heightened awareness of the development role that heritage and culture plays in Rural Development. He was passionate about the Sliabh Luachra heritage of this region. A lifelong member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which ploughed a lonely furrow in recording and documenting traditional music, song and dance which for many years, modern culture saw as a symbol of old Ireland that needed to be shed and buried.
Jack felt very differently, through his deep knowledge of old Irish history and the Irish language itself. He would often recommend that we should all read the book ‘’How the Irish saved civilization”, and he was right of course, and wasn’t the only one to have that belief as our former President the formidable Dr. Mary McAleese did a short series of programmes on RTE travelling to significant sites across Europe highlighting that very fact.
He never hid his Republican roots in politics and was very proud of Sean Moylan and the men of the South. A copy of that painting by Sean Keating from the National Gallery was presented to Jack by the Board of IRD Duhallow on completion of his term as Chairman. He had it prominently displayed in Bruach na Carraige. He told us that he was very proud to have been the man to name the volunteers in that picture for the National gallery. While Jack never denied his political heritage and was a proud Fianna Fáil representative he had the ability to work with and see the merit and good in people of all parties and none.
Often on train journeys from Dublin, we would share a seat with the late Jackie Healy Rae,
the Independent Kerry TD and the journey would pass too quickly listening to both regale us with stories of by-election campaigns and other events. Indeed, they regaled the entire carriage if the truth be told and were never nasty or cutting to others always sharing praise with others.
Jack also had great time for Marian Harkin, Independent MEP from Sligo and of course Liadh Ní Ríada, Sinn Féin MEP for Munster both of whom had great welcomes for the Irish delegations he led in Brussels and did a lot of work to promote Ireland’s Rural Development LEADER Programme in the European Parliament and Commission.
He worked very well with Jimmy Deenihan Fine Gael TD for North Kerry with whom he shared a passion for culture, heritage and sport and when Jimmy became Minister for Rural Development in the Department of Agriculture both shared the common purpose of extending LEADER from the 16 pilot programmes of which IRD Duhallow was one and bringing in places like North Kerry, West Limerick, Blackwater Region and Mid Cork into the LEADER fold. Jack also shared a huge bond of friendship with Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamonn O’Cuív and they worked extremely well together although Jack didn’t always get his own way, they shared a passion for the Irish Language and culture. Jack’s huge interest in Gaelic Games has been recounted over recent times and his role of coach/ manager of club and county is well recognised. He shared this passion with Sean Kelly MEP on several occasions when they met in Brussels and at home, predictions for the Munster Final and All Ireland were often teased out between them before and after the real work was done.
Jack has left many legacies to Rockchapel, Duhallow, Cork, Ireland and indeed Europe. Not least of these is Bruach na Carraige which is not only a physical centre but a cultural revival that has spanned southwest to participate or just soak up the amazing atmosphere and show.
His ‘Ceoltóirí Sliabh luachra’ were invited to perform for dignitaries visiting the county and city councils, as well as national events. They were received at Áras an Uachtaráin and performed in Brussels, Scotland, Spain, Poland and Sweden to name but a few that spanned Europe, and did Bruach na Carraige, Duhallow and Ireland proud both on and off the stage.
Bruach na Carriage is governed by a Board of mostly young people put in place by Jack for a while now, and they will ensure that ‘the show will go on’ which will be the best tribute of all to Jack Roche. Their musical tribute to Jack over the two days of repose and funeral was poignant and from the heart and fitting for him. They did him proud.
In recent years as well as serving on our Audit and Finance and H. R. Committees, Jack chaired IRD Duhallow’s SAOI Network of active retired groups and will be remembered for the annual ‘Jack’s Mystery Tour’ which is still the highlight of the year for the seniors of Duhallow. IRD Duhallow will ensure that it will continue and under the same title in his memory.
We will all miss him terribly in this organisation. He was ever present to us as a staff and Board. He served as Chair of the Duhallow Community Food Services, a service that he saw the real value of. He also sat on our Social Enterprise Working Group that oversees many of our initiatives including the Community Laundry and Furniture Revamp; Tús, RSS and CE schemes; our Afterschools and Social Farming programme as well as Warmer Homes.
Jack headed up our Rural Transport Initiative and sat on and chaired the National Network of Rural Transport. He was saddened by the process of the forced closure of DART Duhallow Area Rural Transport in favour of a county structure based in Bantry with the loss of 10 jobs in Duhallow.
Jack had strong faith, a sense of purpose and operated under what we were taught in school as ‘cothrum na féine’ the pledge of the Fíanna, he thought out his positions carefully and thoroughly and once he had settled on a position or strategy he stoically held and promoted it no matter what popular thinking might be. He led with courage and conviction, and he won over everyone ‘to do the right thing’ while leaving it to the staff to ‘do the thing right’ he led by example.
He encouraged, inspired, and supported new board members and new staff alike. With Jack in your corner, you felt you could navigate any obstacle or situation. He was generous to a fault, with his time as well as his resources, knowledge, and support.
He had all the characteristics of a true Chieftain in rallying support with phrases like ‘if ye are not with me ye are against me’ always instilling integrity and hard work and tenacity. He admired people that had well thought out and considered opinions and principles even if they didn’t share his. He inspired us to stick to our principles and listen to what people were saying as well as what they were not saying. His response to a poor negotiation and outcome was to say “they will neither fear or respect ye” stand up for what ye know is right. Suaimhneas síorraí da anam dilís ní fheicimid a leithéid arís.
We can’t help but note the coincidence that Jerry Sheehan, founder of IRD Duhallow and the first LEADER Programme in Duhallow, Jack Roche who championed LEADER in Ireland and brought LEADER to Eastern Europe and Jacques Delors the European ‘President’ whose policy “the Future of Rural Europe” and gave rise to the establishment of LEADER, were all called to the next world at the same time.
'Jack'
by SINEAD GUINEY
In the heart of Rockchapel, where the rivers wind, lies a tale of Jack, a beacon of his kind.
From the rolling hills to the riverside, a son of Ireland, of culture entwined.
In Bruach na Carraige, a heritage haven he'd create, preserving the echoes of a rich storied fate. Irish music, the soulful song and stories he'd create.
With each step a jig in the ancient tongue, he spoke for rural Ireland when hope was young. A politician's hat in the European Hall, Jack stood tall answering his people's call.
Through the corridors where decisions unfold, He championed tales of green and gold. A speaker of justice, a defender of the soil, Jack fought against decline with unwavering toil.
From Rockchapel's embrace, his journey would unfurl, promoting the language, the song, the dance, the swirl. Through the corridors of time, his legacy engrave, a champion of Ireland, a tireless crusade.
In whispers of the Feale, and the rivers that roam, Jack's spirit lingers finding its home.
In Bruach na Carraige the heritage he'd tend, A patriot, a guardian, a legend, A true Rockchapel friend.
Solas na bhflaitheas agus leaba I measch n naingeal dóibh.
