CON Howard, the Dysart man who was founder of Scoil Merriman and St Brendan Society of Voyagers, was a mighty fine man. His various professional peaks included being press counsellor for the Department of Foreign Affairs to London and to Washington, and he was consul general in Boston. Con died three years ago. By then, aged 84 and in poor health, the Clare luminary had earned his ease from cultural and political achievement, and his eternal mischief.
His light is now within the Howard family plot beside the High Kings in Dysart. Yet some terrific words by others bring life to his rare ould times in a new book, titled ‘Memories of Con Howard’.
Through his roguish, insightful and persevering talents, it was Con who persuaded Sydney Nolan to surrender his art collection to Ireland. He helped nudge Prime Minister Ted Heath towards devolution and Ireland. President Reagan took a shine to him, Margaret Thatcher did not; Charlie Haughey was a fan, some Foreign Affairs executives were not. He was, as Sean Donlon, former Secretary General and then Ireland ambassador to the US, from the ‘hedge-school tradition of Ireland’, not the Law Library/ Belvedere pool and orthodoxy.
On Con Howard’s death, Wesley Boyd dedicated the Irishman’s Diary in the Irish Times to his legacy, especially with respect to the ongoing institution of Scoil Merriman. The biannual school has become country’s most democratic forum, be the subject sport, Ireland’s youth, our Diaspora, ethics, ecclesiastics, literary firepower and inevitable scuds.
Con Howard’s partner, Mary Caulfield of United Arts Club, Fitzwilliam St in Dublin, began a book of retrospectives dedicated to him, gathered from people he had met throughout his vibrant, expansive life. John Banville, Meave Binchy, John Behan, Seamus Heaney, Anthony Cronin, Gabriel Rosenstock, Irish Independent’s Tatler Desmond Rushe and this page’s Rose Rushe (Des’ niece) contributed to the 33 chapters that restore heart and mind.
Ulick O’Connor and Sean Donlon addressed the arts club launch – Con was vice president – with personal and professional recollections, The pipes played, Sean Tyrell gave us ‘Caoineadh i Luimní’ and at least 200 attended, spilling out the function room into lobby, stairs and bar.
Mary Caulfield is editor of ‘Memories of Con Howard’ and publisher www.hotpress.com/hotpressbooks/ takes online orders.
