This article is from page 13 of the 2012-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
A NEW book of essays by Clare man and former diplomat, Con Howard, was recently launched in Dublin.
Mr Howard, who is credited with helping create close ties between Ireland and influential American politicians such as Ted Kennedy, was honoured at an event in the Arts Club, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, last month. The book was launched by retired diplomat Sean Donlon.
Originally from Dysert, Mr Howard attended St Flannan’s College before joining the diplomatic corps. Apart from his career in the civil service, Mr Howard is well known for founding the Merriman Summer School, the St Brendan Society and the Irish Australian Society.
Friend and Clare-based poet, Brian Mooney, who attended the book launch in Dublin, said Mr Howard was a man of “brilliant ideas”. He continued, “In all cases he had a knack of co-opting appropriate people of money and influence to the cause thus enabling the projects to flourish. Thus Ted Heath, the English Prime Minister, was coopted to the Brendan Society. Sidney Nolan, the artist, became one of the main drivers of the Irish Australian Society. And Con himself was instrumental in having him present a ‘Wild Goose’ collection of his paintings to the nation which now hang in the Museum of Modern Art.”
He added, “His courting of the great and the famous led to things of greater moment. For example, Sean Donlon deemed his work in cultivating people like (Ted) Kennedy and Tip O’Neill in America as responsible for the special relationship that now exists between Ireland and the White House. And he also credited him with creating the aura within which the whole new relationship between Ireland and England has taken place, as a result of his work in the consulate in England.”
Mr Mooney said, “To become involved with Con Howard was an experience people would never forget. One of the essayists suggests in the book that the Irish Government should declare a two minute period of pandemonium on the anniversary of his death!”