Call to name airport after former Taoiseach

FIANNA Fáil commemorated Seán Lemass at a ceremony in Deansgrange Cemetery recently where it was suggested that Dublin Airport be named after the former Taoiseach.

The commemoration, which was attended by the daughter of Seán Lemass, Maureen Haughey (91), was led by the cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr Cormac Devlin.

He was joined by Seán Haughey TD (grandson of Lemass) in laying a wreath to mark the 45th anniversary of the former Taoiseach’s death. 

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuiv, speaking at the graveside, recalled that Seán Lemass and Éamon De Valera had “stood shoulder to shoulder from the very beginning to the very end”. 

Ó Cuiv also noted Lemass’ commitment to public service, in particular his zeal for innovation in the establishment of semi-State companies such as the Industrial Credit Corporation (ICC) and Bord na Mona.

Reflecting on the fact Lemass had established Aer Lingus 80 years ago in 1936, Ó Cuiv called for the renaming of Dublin Airport after the former Taoiseach.

John Francis Lemass was born in Ballybrack, before his family moved to Capel Street.

He was the second of seven children born to John and Frances Lemass.

Within the family his name soon changed to Jack and eventually, after 1916, he himself preferred to be called Seán.

He was educated at O’Connell School where he was described as studious (his two best subjects being history and mathematics).

A veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, Lemass was first elected as a Sinn Féin TD for the South constituency in a by-election on November 18, 1924.

He was returned at each election until the constituency was abolished in 1948, when he was re-elected for Dublin South-Central until his retirement in 1969.

He was a founder-member of Fianna Fáil in 1926, and served as Minister for Industry and Commerce, Minister for Supplies andTánaiste in successive Fianna Fáil governments.

Lemass is widely regarded as the father of modern Ireland, primarily due to his efforts in facilitating industrial growth, bringing foreign direct investment into the country, and forging permanent links between Ireland and the European community.