Cork City Council to ask Tánaiste to recant historical Adolf Hitler condolences 

Cork City Council is to write to Tánaiste Micheál Martin asking him to recant condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler made by his party founder Éamon de Valera 80 years ago.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran proposed: “That, on the occasion of 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, remembering the genocide... by the Nazi government, that the incoming Government of Ireland will recant condolences on the death of Hitler conveyed by President Douglas Hyde and Taoiseach Éamon de Valera, and that this motion will be forwarded to An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin.” 

Speaking at Monday night’s council meeting, Mr Moran explained: “We gave condolences, and we were the only democracy to do so.

“It was motivated by what we now know was a misplaced sense of neutrality, our position of neutrality was developing and we insisted that there was no difference between (American president Franklin D) Roosevelt and Hitler, so expressions of condolences were sent to both.” 

He said it was a mistake at the time, but that the greater mistake has been not rectifying it since, and that the 80-year anniversary was the opportunity to do so.

Greatest error 

Fianna Fáil’s Colm Kelleher spoke in defence of his party founder, saying: “We can’t rewrite history, I do believe it was his (de Valera’s) greatest error - but that man did more for this country than any other man.” 

His party colleague, Fergal Dennehy, asked: “How does this motion benefit Cork City Council? I think it’s a bit nonsensical and I don’t see any benefit in it, it will create an issue that doesn’t exist, I don’t see the purpose of wasting this council’s time.” 

Fianna Fáil’s John Sheehan criticised using the forum of council meetings for debates on historical events, but cautioned: “If we vote against this motion, the headline will be that Cork City Council votes to keep the condolence to Hitler”.

He added that his feeling was that it was “a grave error on de Valera’s part”, in his opinion.

Rewrite history

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said he could not support the motion, saying: "This is just trying to rewrite history”, but stated that he would support an amendment that the council remember the victims of the Holocaust.

Mr Moran argued: "It just needs to be admitted that it was stupid to give the condolence, but when asked about it in 2023 the Tánaiste did not admit it was a mistake like members of Fianna Fáil have done tonight.” 

The motion went to a vote, where it was passed.

There were 13 votes in favour of the motion, including the Sinn Féin and Green Party councillors; Ted Tynan of the Worker’s Party; Niamh O’Connor of the Social Democrats, and Brian McCarthy of People Before Profit – Solidarity.

Labour’s Laura Harmon; Fine Gael’s Damian Boylan, as well as John Sheehan and Colm Kelleher from Fianna Fáil, also voted in favour.

Five councillors voted against the motion; Independent Ireland’s Noel O’Flynn; Independent's Kieran McCarthy and Albert Deasy, and Fianna Fáil’s Seán Martin and Fergal Dennehy.

There were six abstentions in total, Labour’s Peter Horgan and John Maher; Fine Gael’s Joe Kavanagh and Fianna Fáil’s Tony Fitzgerald, Mary Rose Desmond and Terry Coleman.