Dennis Dennehy (1938–1984) was an Irish political activist. He was a founding member of both the Irish Communist Organisation and the

Dublin Housing Action Committee The Dublin Housing Action Committee (DHAC) was a 1960s protest group formed in response to housing shortages in Dublin, Ireland's capital city. It quickly moved to direct action and successfully squatted buildings to oppose redevelopment plans. ...

Life

Dennis Dennehy was born in Ireland in 1938 and was a native of Bushmount,

Ballyduff, County Kerry Ballyduff () is a village near Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. Located on the R551 road between Ballyheigue and Ballybunion on hills above Cashen Bay where the River Feale flows to the sea at the mouth of the River Shannon. History Near B ...

. He emigrated to London, and became active in CND and amongst Communist groups there with other Irish emigrants. Following the 1965 split in the Communist group, he sided with the Maoist wing which became the Irish Communist Organisation (later the British & Irish Communist Organisation). Returning to Ireland in the mid sixties he served as secretary of the

, and was arrested for squatting at 20 Mountjoy Square. During his time in prison he went on hunger strike in January 1969. He then worked as driver in Dublin Bus (

CIÉ Córas Iompair Éireann (''Irish Transport Company''), or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of Ireland, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport within the republic and jointly with its Northern Ireland counter ...

) and was member of the

ITGWU The Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), was a trade union representing workers, initially mainly labourers, in Ireland. History The union was founded by James Larkin in January 1909 as a general union. Initially drawing its memb ...

. In his final years he was a founder member of DAD and the Family Law Reform Group.

Death

Dennehy died after an illness on 14 June 1984 and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery.Dennis Dennehy - Wignore July 1984 European Elections Real Results
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennehy, Dennis 1938 births 1984 deaths Irish communists Trade unionists from County Kerry People from Ballyduff, County Kerry Irish socialists 20th-century squatters