Whilst many of us today sit down to breakfast and listen to morning radio as they talk and debate on the most recent political upheaval in this crisis stricken country one man sits and ponders on just how this crisis has come to be. How a country, steeped in history and pride, has fallen to its knees over some petty finances.
I sat down with Stephen Joseph Casey to speak about how the current government has failed us. However it turns out that it is I who have failed, as I soon found myself so intrigued by this man’s warmth and love for his wife of 60 years, and for his large family of 12 children and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that I could not help but to forget of the troubles which have recently befallen this nation and listen as I heard of one man’s crusade through an inspirational life.
Stevie-Joe was born and raised in Cork where he has lived all his life. Though growing up in a country torn apart by war he claims cork was always a “great city” “We were lucky in those days as we had 2 lovely green natural playing surfaces in the lough parish. One was the lough, and the other was an area known locally as Canty’s field which was a fairly high limestone cliff descending to what is now Gillabbey park. And the river lee tributaries is where we did our swimming. So yes I would say I had a pretty good childhood growing up.” Recalls a man who would not know a Nintendo Wii if it hit him in the face with a virtual tennis ball. However the wartimes were not completely forgotten in the fields and waters of cork. When he was a young boy Stephen’s father, a painter and decorator by trade, had to leave the country in order to find work in Ford’s factory in Dagenham for a few years before he was lucky enough to get a call from his previous employers which enabled him to come home to his family. Some years later when it was time to enter the working world Stephen followed in his father’s footsteps and became an apprentice painter and decorator in what was locally a well known family run business called D and E Fitzgibbon “and in those days”, he adds, “we worked hard and served a minimum 7 years unlike those of today who get an easy 3 to 4 years of less thorough training.” Though not a grouchy man in the least, none would blame him if he was, due to all his hard and mostly unappreciated work through the years. In 1954 Stephen would follow his father’s footsteps again. This time across the water to find work in the Cadbury factory in Bourneville outside Birmingham Where he spent 3 years away from his wife and children before he was finally given the opportunity to return to his native Ireland when once again he followed in his father’s footsteps and was called back by his previous employer D & E Fitzgibbon Stephen went on to work in the Texaco oil refinery in Whitegate as Maintenance painter and decorator foreman. It was from here that Stephen began down the road to help change this country for the better. “I was to enter the world of Trade Unions in what would prove another step in my father’s shoes”, Becoming secretary of the Cork Painters Union. “When the national Trade unions began to spread throughout the country I was one of the principal organizers in Cork and was later offered an official position”. Through his work with the trade unions Stephen became a key ingredient in the formation of another organization when he became involved in establishing ANCO (now FAS) “ A great initiative aimed at giving apprentices the very best training available. It incorporated all building trades, from masons to carpenters to painters and more. ANCO was definitely for the better in the long run as It set a standard which was really important in the construction industry. The trade unions had established a training centre which was of university standard in its own right and led the way for the many institutes of technology throughout the country”. ANCO would later branch out and create trades where there were none before, such as the catering trade or the hoteliers trade along with many more. Stephen would later retire from his position as he became disillusioned with the less than adequate gratitude he received for a sometimes slave like workload. “I would come home some nights to find everybody had gone to bed. It would be 12 or 1 at night sometimes when I got back from all the meetings. It wasn’t right as I had a family who always came first in my heart.”
Upon retirement Stephen continued to pursue his passion in amateur boxing in which he had won multiple trophies as a youngster, however one of his favorite moments in the sport was when his brother Pierce won the Purdon Trophy in the National Championships in Dublin. “We’d set up a collection down outside the opera house in order to raise the money to send him and my aunt was kind enough to put him up for the few days he was there.” He recalls with a smile as warm as a fire,and a twinkle in his eye.
Since retiring Stephen and his enigmatic wife Breda have spent their time travelling the globe. “We’ve seen most of the civilized world though never Russia. Why? It’s too cold there,” remarks the young at heart great-grandfather. Of his many adventures in the world it was his travels to Australia that Stephen enjoyed the most, “My late brother-in-law Denis worked in Melbourne for many years before retiring to Queensland. Breda and I enjoyed our visits to him and we both miss him dearly. He was a great friend to us,” he recollects with a tear in his eye and paused as if to remember some of the times he spent with Denis before a clear of the throat and a tap of his finger off the arm of the seat brings him back to our conversation with that flaming smile back again.
Now a fit young 80 years old Stephen proudly admits that despite his quadruple bypass 15 years ago he feels quite good. “ I don’t listen to the statistics I got a heart attack because I didn’t drink enough Port,” he laughs, “I still drive my own car, still walk on my own feet and still chew my own food. I feel great.” Despite all his experiences in life Stephen says “I have no regrets because in life a smile always works better than frown”. He does however emphatically, state his greatest achievement . “My 12 children. They are all good kids and I am so very proud of each of them. They are a credit to my wife and I am just glad to be able to say I had a little hand in raising them”.
So as far as the state of the country goes there have been no arguments settled here today, although maybe if those in government once again begin to listen to the people and feel proud enough to treat and love this country like their children, then we will see a group of leaders striving through any and all odds to provide comfort to those they claim to serve just as this unsung hero has done throughout his life.
Karl Murphy
Though waiting until the age of 34 before entering the world film Brendan Gleeson has become one of the worlds favourite Irishmen. Now he has again garnered international acclaim for his part in The Guard. 
