A legend dies

The young republican Volunteers of the 1940s are slipping from our midst - mostly unheralded. Yet these were the people who put the IRA and Sinn Féin back on track after the savage suppression of the Republican Movement in 1939-1945.

For many young republicans the name Joe Christle may not ring a bell, but anyone who has read Tim Pat Coogan's and Bowyer Bell's histories of the IRA would be in no doubt as to his prominence amongst republicans, especially in the 1950s.

He was involved in the raid on Armagh Barracks in 1954 (he sat his final Bar exams that morning) and later in the daring attempt to capture Omagh Barracks. Injured on that operation he recuperated by becoming editor of the United Irishman.

Joe was a republican socialist of the highest calibre who clashed often with the Movement's leadership over his open calls for the Movement to become pro-active and his open espousal of radical policies, such as dropping abstentionism and greater political involvement.

Joe and the Republican Movement parted ways in June 1956 and a large number of Volunteers joined Joe in a military campaign against the Orange statelet until the 1960s. Unbeknownst to him the IRA leadership was preparing such a campaign and a December date had been chosen for what was known as Operation Harvest.

There was much more to Joe than a military leader. All his achievements were aimed at furthering the cause of the Irish republic. On the sporting front Joe founded the great cycle race, An Rás Tailteann (forerunner of today's FBD Rás), and in the process rebuilt the National Athletic and Cycling Association.

Joe began his working life as a labourer with Bord na Móna, before qualifying as a barrister and working for many years in the ESB. In the ESB he led the successful strike for better pay and conditions in 1946. He later worked closely with the leadership of the Unemployed Protest Movement which succeeded in having Jack Murphy elected as a member of Leinster House. Following pressure from the then Minister for Labour, Dr Patrick Hillery and the trade union leader Charlie McCarthy, a workers' tribunal in the ESB was abolished and Joe was not included on the replacement Industrial Council. He turned to his legal training, being appointed as lecturer in law and accountancy in the College of Commerce in 1961.

His new found job or his breach with the Movement's leadership did not prevent him from continuing his republican activities and along with others, including Sean Treacy (tragically killed in a building site accident a few weeks ago), he left his mark on Dublin's O'Connell Street in March 1966 when he sent Nelson into orbit.

Joe Christle never sought wealth, prestige or power. He was driven by one ambition - to realise the ideals of Wolfe Tone. He died a republican convinced that if today's leadership retained a focused, united and disciplined Movement that victory was inevitable. I measc laochra na nGael go raibh sé.