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From Carrickfergus to Connemara – the life of Sean Lester, international diplomat with Gerry Finnegan
September 24, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
€15
Belfast-born Gerry Finnegan dedicated 20 years to the International Labour Organization (ILO), serving in Zambia, Guyana, India, Thailand, and Geneva, Switzerland. In 2006, he assumed the role of Director at the ILO Lusaka Office for Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, collaborating closely with the United Nations Country Teams. Post-retirement in 2010, Finnegan delved into the lives of two remarkable Irish figures: Edward Phelan at the ILO, where Finnegan had worked, and Seán Lester at the League of Nations. Both were pioneers for individuals like Finnegan, who had extensive tenures with the ILO and the United Nations, the League’s successor.
Finnegan chronicled their journey in his book “The Irish Influence – Building the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization” (BTP Books, June 2023), focusing on the bond between Lester, from Carrickfergus, and Phelan, from Waterford. Lester’s resting place in Christ Church Cemetery, Clifden, alongside his family, adds depth to their story. Set against the tumultuous first half of the 20th century, marked by two world wars and Ireland’s quest for independence, their narrative underscores their contributions to the creation of the Irish Free State and the shaping of global organisations.
Sponsored by: Connor Devally