As part of this year's Clifden Arts Festival, author and former International Labour Organization (ILO ) official Gerry Finnegan will deliver a talk titled 'Carrickfergus to Connemara' on Tuesday, September 24.
The talk is on themes set out in his latest book, The Irish Influence – Building the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization. The event will take place against the historic backdrop of Clifden, where Seán Lester, one of the book's key figures, rests in Christ Church Cemetery.
Belfast-born Finnegan dedicated 20 years to the ILO, serving in various countries, including Zambia, Guyana, India, Thailand, and Switzerland. After retiring in 2010, he turned his attention to exploring the lives of two remarkable Irishmen, Edward Phelan and Seán Lester, whose contributions to global governance and Ireland's national identity left an indelible mark.
In his talk, Finnegan will delve into the deep bond between Phelan, a Waterford native who played a pivotal role in the ILO, and Lester, from Carrickfergus, who was instrumental at the League of Nations. Their stories, set against the backdrop of two world wars and Ireland's struggle for independence, highlight their critical roles in the creation of the Irish Free State and the shaping of international organisations that followed.
