SWITCHING on the television on Thursday evening last, August 23, one would have been forgiven for assuming that the genial Labour Party Leader, Pat Rabbitte, had passed away. The RTÉ News featured photographs of the Ballindine-native throughout his college days and political years, as newsreaders spoke of the many tributes that were flooding into the newsroom for Mr Rabbitte. As the warm politician conducted interviews from his Dublin office, the muted television in the background grabbed his attention, as he too watched the photographs flash before his eyes. But, fortunately, Mr Rabbitte had not been called to his Maker. Instead, he had taken the difficult decision to step down from his position as Leader of the Labour Party and, he too was bowled over by the coverage on the national news.

Speaking to the Western People about his decision to announce his resignation, Mr Rabbitte chuckled about the media frenzy that surrounded his press conference on Thursday afternoon.

“Of course I knew that there would be many interviews to be done on Thursday, Friday and indeed into the weekend. But, on Thursday evening, when I glanced at the television in my office, I couldn’t help thinking ‘Did I die and nobody told me?’,” laughed the former Labour leader.

Pat Rabbitte’s sharp intellect and wit has made him a household name in Ireland in recent years and, no matter what a person’s political colour might be, one couldn’t help but be drawn to the Labour Leader’s personality. In this year’s General Election, the Ballindine-native presented a joint Fine Gael and Labour platform to the electorate as an alternative Government. However, when the parties suffered defeat from Fianna Fáil, Mr Rabbitte decided that the time had come to reassess his position as the leader of the Labour Party.

The eldest of five children (three girls and two boys), Pat was born into a Ballindine family in May 1949. The 58-year-old Mayo man enjoyed a happy childhood in South Mayo, beginning his education at Cullane National School, a small rural school that was located on the Ballyhaunis road out of Ballindine. Throughout his early years, Pat’s passion for Mayo football began and this was further enhanced by his Principal, Jimmy Curran, who was a county footballer and a member of the panel who captured the All-Ireland title in 1950 and 1951.

Pat went on to St Colman’s College in Claremorris and, when he was just 17 and had completed his Leaving Certificate, his mother passed away. Pat spent the summer after his Leaving Cert in England and then returned to pursue a Degree in English Literature, Law and Politics at the University College in Galway. Throughout his college years, the Ballindine man spent each summer in America.

While studying in Galway, Pat’s flair for politics really began to emerge. He served as the Students’ Union President at the College, before going on to be the President of the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) from 1972-4.

By 1974, Pat was National Secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, and a member of the Labour Party. In 1976, Mr Rabbitte left the Labour Party as a result of a controversial dispute over natural resources. The Mayo man then joined Sinn Féin - the Workers Party. In 1979 he married Derry and the couple have three daughters.

In the Local Elections of 1985, Pat won a seat on Dublin County Council and was elected to the Dáil in 1979. The party evolved over the years from Sinn Féin to the Workers Party to Democratic Left and, as a member of the Rainbow Government, Pat served as Minister of State to the Government 1994-1997 and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology. In June 1997, the Rainbow Coalition lost the General Election and, six weeks later, Pat’s father sadly passed away.

In 1999, the Democratic Left re-merged with Labour and in October 2002, Mr Rabbitte took over the running of the party from Ruairí Quinn. Contrary to popular belief, Pat was not the first Mayo man to rise to the lofty position. TJ O’Connell had been leader of the Labour Party in 1927, while also holding the position as General Secretary of the INTO.

In the run-up to this year’s General Election, Pat Rabbitte and Enda Kenny shook hands on the Mullingar Accord - a pact uniting the two parties to go forward against Fianna Fáil offering an alternative government.

Pat’s alliance with his fellow Mayo-native Enda Kenny came about after a great deal of thought by the Dublin South West TD. “Of course, there was some natural affinity that grows with the opposition parties and we knew that the only prospect of beating Fianna Fáil was to offer a replacement. It made it easier going into the agreement with Enda as I have known him for a long time. I went to College with Henry, Enda’s brother, and also, I had watched his father’s role in politics and football for many years. I knew Enda was honest and trust-worthy,” Pat remarked.

However, the Mayo-part-nership didn’t work out for the two men and the Labour Party was returned to the Dáil with 20 seats, one less than in the previous election.

Following the election result in May, Mr Rabbitte said he would be staying on as leader of the party but accepted it needed to modernise and realise that people’s attitudes had changed. However, after spending many hours soul-searching over the summer, Pat decided to resign from the position last week.

Speaking to the Western People, Pat admitted that it had been a ‘tough and painful’ few weeks for him. He stressed that he had felt absolutely no pressure to resign from the post from his party colleagues and was “taken aback that they were so taken aback” by his decision.

Pat made his final decision while holidaying in Kerry in recent weeks. A favourite holiday spot for the family for some 20 years, Pat knew that if he could take time out to think things through anywhere, then the spot to do it would definitely be on holidays, West of Dingle.

“I had a year of my term to run before I would have to struggle with the decision but, the more I thought about it, the clearer it became - I had to decide there and then, in the interest of the party. If I stayed on for another year, the new leader would be facing the Local Elections within five months. I felt that the beginning of the new Dáil was the time to make my decision and, after some thought, I knew it was time for me to resign,” Pat explained.

Despite taking a step back from the front line, Pat is adamant that he is not leaving politics and fully intends to be part of the Labour team who contest the next General Election --an occasion that will come about before the five-year term is up, according to Mr Rabbitte.

Needless to say, the public will be anxious that the South Mayo man still has a voice in the Dáil. But, Pat would not be drawn in this regard. “That’s up to the next leader. There is a tradition that the outgoing leader allows the new leader to establish themselves. I gave Ruarí Quinn a position on the Front Bench and I would be delighted to take one from the new leader, but that will be out of my hands,” noted Mr Rabbitte.

Not surprisingly, Pat was also keeping his opinions to himself when it came to the question as to who might fill his shoes.

“I wouldn’t dream of commenting on that,” he concluded with a smile.

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