Miriam O'Callaghan interviews the Hanafins

Rebelheart

Did any of you just hear this on RTÉ Radio 1? You can listen back to it here.

It started off fairly normally with Des Hanafin talking about his Dad and his role in the IRB and Sinn Féin before joining Fianna Fáil in the late 1920s. I never had much time for Des Hanafin but I certainly understood a lot more about why he is such a devout Catholic when he started talking about his alcoholism and how he got through it. Admirable honesty, but I suppose at 80 years of age he has nothing to lose.

But then Miriam asked Mary Hanafin if it was OK to talk to her about the death of her husband of 18 years, the Senior Counsel Éamon Leahy in 2003. Poor Mary's voice was quivering with every word as she recounted precisely what happened that day from when she got up and where she was when she heard the news. The amount of detail she had about everything was poignant. O'Callaghan went back to the topic later very delicately and Mary Hanafin was just hanging on when she talked about it again. She spoke about how strangers walked up to her on the street to commiserate, how a woman in Dún Laoghaire whom she never saw before walked up to her on the street and gave her a big hug. Amazing how nearly 7 years later she spoke about it as if it happened yesterday.

It was the most moving radio I've heard in years.

jmcc

Rebelheart wrote: »

It was the most moving radio I've heard in years.

I would say that this is just the first of a large set of appearances designed to show that Hannafin has a more human side. The aim would be a run at the leadership of FF.

Regards...jmcc

danbohan

Rebelheart wrote: »

Did any of you just hear this on RTÉ Radio 1? You can listen back to it here.

It started off fairly normally with Des Hanafin talking about his Dad and his role in the IRB and Sinn Féin before joining Fianna Fáil in the late 1920s. I never had much time for Des Hanafin but I certainly understood a lot more about why he is such a devout Catholic when he started talking about his alcoholism and how he got through it. Admirable honesty, but I suppose at 80 years of age he has nothing to lose.

But then Miriam asked Mary Hanafin if it was OK to talk to her about the death of her husband of 18 years, the Senior Counsel Éamon Leahy in 2003. Poor Mary's voice was quivering with every word as she recounted precisely what happened that day from when she got up and where she was when she heard the news. The amount of detail she had about everything was poignant. O'Callaghan went back to the topic later very delicately and Mary Hanafin was just hanging on when she talked about it again. She spoke about how strangers walked up to her on the street to commiserate, how a woman in Dún Laoghaire whom she never saw before walked up to her on the street and gave her a big hug. Amazing how nearly 7 years later she spoke about it as if it happened yesterday.

It was the most moving radio I've heard in years.

does anybody on these boards remember the behavior of des hanafin and his ilk in the divorce referendums of the 1980 , and 90s , ? , hard to have any sympathy or time for that family if you do.

Sierra Oscar

It is quite well known within FF circles that naturally, the death of Mary Hanafin's husband is still a very delicate subject with her. It would also be said within certain FF circles that Mary Hanafin has become very closed since he passed away, and has really focused on her work more than anything else over the last number of years - they would say that she would not have all that many very close personal friends with other senior party members as compared to other ministers.

phelixoflaherty

Perhaps such topics should be avoided on the show. This is not the first time, and Miriam appears to go for it with gusto.

Annasopra

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

Perhaps such topics should be avoided on the show. This is not the first time, and Miriam appears to go for it with gusto.

Why? Also surely Miriam or researchers mention it first?

Michaelrsh

I heard the interview too, there is only one thing I can say:

FIANNA FÁIL PROPAGANDA!!!

steelcityblues

Michaelrsh wrote: »

I heard the interview too, there is only one thing I can say:

FIANNA FÁIL PROPAGANDA!!!

Shows like this are delibarate propaganda-lite, trying what they can to 'humanise' this lot at a time when there is a lot of public skepticism in general about politicians!

Glad to say I haven't listened to a full episode yet.

Seth Brundle

Maybe RTE will rerun some old interviews related to Mary...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL68zQNALvE

and

http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/20070427.html (click the Autism link)

I'm sure there are loads more out there!

donkey balls

kbannon wrote: »

Maybe RTE will rerun some old interviews related to Mary...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL68zQNALvE

and

http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/20070427.html (click the Autism link)

I'm sure there are loads more out there!

good find:D have to laugh at gormless 4.30 into the clip were he calls bertie corupt/deceitfull,as for hanafin i dont know how many times matt cooper has asked her would she give up her teaching post.
and the normal reply is that it is an honour to serve her country and why should she have to give up her teaching post,hello MARY it's not as if you would be able to go into a class in the morning and teach, you have not teached in a class room in over fourteen years.
teaching practises change the curiculum changes.

Seth Brundle

donkey balls wrote: »

good find:D have to laugh at gormless 4.30 into the clip were he calls bertie corupt/deceitfull,as for hanafin i dont know how many times matt cooper has asked her would she give up her teaching post.

They weren't that hard to find (which says a lot!)
Is that Gormley? I initially thought it was but the person in the vid seemed to be anti corruption. I'm confused.

donkey balls wrote: »

teaching practises change the curiculum changes.

...but politicians don't

steelcityblues

What happened to that John Gormley and when was he 'taken out'?:rolleyes:

donkey balls

steelcityblues wrote: »

What happened to that John Gormley and when was he 'taken out'?:rolleyes:

he now resides on planet bertie:rolleyes: