TUI remembers Patricia Hurley on 50th anniversary of her tragic death

By piofficer, Thursday, 10th November 2022 | 0 comments

On the 50th anniversary of her tragic death, we remember Patricia Hurley, the first woman to hold the office of Vice President of the Union, a mould-breaking achievement of which she was justly proud.

“Patricia was a committed educationalist,” former TUI General Secretary Jim Dorney said from the podium at this year’s Annual Congress in Wexford. “She was the Union representative on Aontas and liaison person with UNESCO and she won a scholarship to study the education system in Denmark.”

“She espoused an education system that was free co-educational and multidenominational.”

However, it was not only education that was the defining issue of her term of office, but her tireless work for members in Co. Wexford who were involved in a dispute with management. “Patricia was to the fore in organising and supporting strikes both locally and nationally – a special congress was called to support the Wexford strike and a national levy to finance it was agreed to finance it. She was particularly active in attending branch meetings in Wexford to support and advise the striking teachers,” said Jim.

“She herself was a teacher in Killorglin Vocational school in Co. Kerry with a full timetable, yet she was not found wanting in her commitment to fighting the injustice in her visits to Wexford. It was during one such visit that she was involved in a horrific road accident and killed instantly. Her death was a huge shock to both her family and her union colleagues. Her funeral was one of the saddest events in the history of the union. It was attended by members from all over the country including myself. The funeral became the rallying point for the continuation of Patricia’s work.”

“Eventually the Wexford dispute was resolved in the union’s favour. The victory ensured that teachers, not only in Wexford, but throughout the country, would never again endure the harsh working conditions that were the cause of the strike.”


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