Adams’ shock at death of publisher Steve MacDonogh

GERRY ADAMS has expressed his shock and sorrow at the the death of Steve MacDonogh, writer, poet and publisher. Mr MacDonogh died in November after a short illness.
Gerry Adams said:
“Steve’s death came as a terrible shock. My thoughts are with his family, particularly Meryem and their baby Lilya, his mother Barbara, sister Deirdre, and brother Terry, and the extended MacDonogh family.
“Steve was a well-loved and very decent Irishman. He ran a hugely successful, pioneering and progressive publishing business, Brandon from Daingean, County Kerry. I want to extend my condolences to Maíre and all who work at Brandon.
“Steve was deeply committed to free speech and against censorship. He campaigned in support of Salman Rushdie on the one hand and against the secrecy of the British state on the other.
“He breached the repressive ethic on this island at the time when he first published my writing in the early 1980s.
“I have learned a lot from him in the years since then and he has published 12 of my books. Brandon authors include Alice Taylor, whose To School Through the Fields sold more than any other book in Ireland.
“Steve also published Neil Jordan, Ken Breun, and many other authors who went on to win international recognition.
“He relaunched Walter Mackin, Patrick McGill and JB Keane.
“He was a fine writer himself and a very good poet. He had just finished a book on US  President Barack Obama’s Irish roots.
“Like President Obama, Steve’s roots were in the south-east and the Church of Ireland and his latest book is a well-researched examination of the Protestant exodus to, and influence in, the USA.
“Steve was a lover of Irish music and culture, a keen photographer and a champion of the unique community and culture of the Dingle peninsula. He was an enthusiastic mummer. Steve cared deeply for the west of Ireland and made a link between that community and west Belfast. He was a friend of Féile an Phobail.
“He was a friend of the people of Morocco, particularly the Berber people and was returning from there when he became ill.
“His contribution to Ireland, the arts, and to the world of publishing and free speech was immense and he will be sadly missed. I hope it is some comfort to his family that their grief and loss is being shared by many throughout Ireland and globally.
“Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anan dílis.”