The Cedar Lounge Revolution

Balladeer; Citizen of the World; Internationalist & Socialist

Comrade John McDermott

of Clydebank & Partick, Glasgow, Scotland

17th April 1944 – 9th November 2009

A TRIBUTE

We regret to inform comrades and friends of the death of Comrade John
McDermott of Partick, Glasgow, Scotland who died on Monday 9th November 2009. Born in Clydebank, Scotland, John was a committed Socialist, an Internationalist and a valued member of the Workers’ Party of Ireland for almost five decades.

A comrade of integrity and loyalty John was part of the development of the
party from a narrow nationalist movement to a class conscious party of the
working class. Whether under attack from narrow sectarian bigots or under
threat from opportunists one always knew that John McDermott could be relied upon to defend the party. Always very clear as to his political allegiance John took great pride in recalling the words of another famous
Irish/Scottish revolutionary James Connolly who stated “It is not the extent
of your march but the direction in which you are marching which ultimately
matters”.

John recognised, as did James Connolly and the great Scottish revolutionary
John McLean, that the working class struggle to win freedom and justice
would be long and difficult. Despite setbacks and betrayals John McDermott
never lost his optimism and confidence that the working class of the world
would achieve this victory. Over the past decade John worked along side
many wonderful comrades whom he admired greatly as they in turn admired him, comrades such as Liam McMillan, Malachy McGurran , Jim “Solo” Sullivan, Peter Kane and Cathal Goulding.

Through his music and songs, most particularly with the Laggan Folk Group,
John McDermott brought great pleasure and enjoyment to many thousands of people throughout the world. He was part of that great international
movement of solidarity in the 1960s with the people of South Africa fighting
the repressive Apartheid regime, in support of the Vietnamese people against US imperialism and always, up to the day he died, he was a firm and
steadfast supporter of the Cuban people and party in the struggle against
the reactionaries in the United States who sought to defeat the Cuban
revolution.

Whether the struggle was in Scotland, Ireland, Africa, Asia or Latin
America, wherever reaction and repression raised its head, John McDermott
was on the side of the oppressed and for Justice and Freedom. His password was that of the French Revolution, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. He
held these principles and ideals to be constant and until they were realised
the struggle would continue.

His death leaves a large gap in our ranks. For us, his comrades and
friends, we owe it to his memory and his lifelong struggle to intensify our
activities in every area of life, to win new members and supporters so that
we fill John’s place in our ranks with hundreds of new comrades who will
make the aims and principles of John McDermott’s life a reality in our time.

A fierce opponent of sectarianism which had been fostered and promoted for generations in Scotland and Ireland by the ruling class of church and State, John McDermott recognised that the unity of the working class of all
countries was the most important weapon in our struggle.

John was one of the founders of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights
Association in Scotland. He saw the potential of NICRA to mobilise and
unite people around the Civil Rights Programme and he played a major role in building a strong support organisation in Scotland for Civil Rights in
Northern Ireland.

We convey our deepest sympathy to his partner Meg who was his devoted
companion, friend and comrade for many, many years.

Among many of John’s interests in life politics, music, love of the
Highlands ranked near the top. He took every opportunity to be in and part
of the highlands. For instance, on the Saturday two days before he died he
left his hospital bed to travel with his partner and friend Meg for one
last time, as he well knew, to his beloved Glencoe. Here he met old friends
and spent the day with them enjoying their company and the great beautiful
tranquil setting of Glencoe.

The past few weeks have been very difficult ones, for John realised that it
was too late to defeat the illness that had come upon him. He was not
afraid to die and he was surrounded by a loving family, loyal and generous
friends and comrades. He will be long remembered for his kindness, his
sharp wit and humour, and his concern for so many others with whom he had lived and worked with over many years. Knowing him as we did over a
lifetime he would not want any of us – family, friends and comrades to be
mournful or sad at his passing. We will grieve for him but let us celebrate
his life as a very worthwhile contribution to the continued development of
humanity in the long struggle for emancipation. The famous Wobblie song
tells us how we should honour John McDermott.

Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie

Dust unto dust

The calm sweet earth that mothers all who die

As all men must;

But rather mourn the apathetic throng -

The cowed and the meek -

Who see the world’s great anguish and its wrong

And dare not speak!

- Workers’ Party Ard Comhairle

- We will be organising a memorial evening in December

- for our friend and comrade John McDermott

Thanks to the WP for forwarding this…