Opinion
19 Jul 21

President Michael D. Higgins pays tribute to writer and philosopher Desmond Fennell, who has died age 92

"Desmond embraced life in all its glory and its challenges," the President comments. "May his example of writing and thinking in the public discourse of the street come to flourish."

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins leads tributes to Irish writer, philosopher and public intellectual Desmond Fennell, who has died aged 92.

Fennell, who was born in Belfast and raised in Dublin, worked and studied in Germany, Spain, Belarus and Italy, while also contributing to Irish and UK publications. He and his former partner Mary Troy were also involved in the establishment of Raidió na Gaeltachta.

In a statement, the President notes that Fennell "brought an originality of spirit and an informed independent analysis to bear on a wide range of topics."

"He was a vigorous disputant on versions of utopia, to which he gave a secondary place perhaps to Thomism, as I learned, if I remember correctly, as a sometime teaching colleague of his at UCG," the statement continues.

"His writings on the Irish revolutionary period, and their central contention that the Irish revolution had not achieved its aims of cultural and economic independence, remain influential to this day, and will endure."

"Desmond embraced life in all its glory and its challenges," he concludes. "May his example of writing and thinking in the public discourse of the street come to flourish. His legacy and his curiosity, I have no doubt, will continue to inspire."

The President and his wife Sabina send their condolences to Fennell's "extended family, to Miriam, his children Oisín, Cilian, Natasha, Sorcha and Kate, and to all his family and friends."

See more tributes to Desmond Fennell below.

RIP Desmond Fennell. For anyone who loves ideas, his writing will always be an inspiration. Here he is in 2013 with his life’s work. pic.twitter.com/jNFj9DYEGQ

— Toner Quinn (@TonerQuinn) July 18, 2021

Today @PresidentIRL said, #DesmondFennell “embraced life in all its glory and its challenges and would be remembered by many.” So happy to be celebrating Desmond’s incredible life & times with his family. He was some man for one man. A true original. https://t.co/QOrFJCfUB0

— Róisín Ingle (@roisiningle) July 18, 2021

RIP Desmond Fennell, one of the few genuine public intellectuals Ireland has had in the past 60 years. Like a proper intellectual, he wasn’t afraid to change his mind or to against the grain even if it meant banishment from Irish society’s “inner circle”. https://t.co/adObvpC2ei

— Joe Humphreys (@JoeHumphreys42) July 18, 2021