'A legend of our city': Trade unionist Henry Moloney laid to rest

After a moving ceremony at Sacred Heart Church in Waterford city, Henry Moloney, the former Waterford Crystal trade unionist, was laid to rest in St. Otteran’s Cemetery, Waterford.

Henry died on Saturday, October 5, at age 87, and he will be sadly missed by his loving children Henry and Mary, brother Jimmy, daughter-in-law Jennie, son-in-law Tony, grandchildren Laura, Kenneth, Craig and Adam, great-grandchildren Darragh, Noé and Teddy.

His funeral Mass was said by Fr. Gerard Chestnutt on Wednesday, October 10, with representatives from trade union Unite, Waterford Council of Trade Unions and former Waterford Crystal workers paying their respects. Flags of both organisations were draped on his coffin as it was carried into the church by his family and friends.

“He lived to a great age, he lived a great life,” Fr. Chestnutt said, “but it is still a day of immense sadness.” 

The Parish Priest, who knew Henry well, said “a legend of our city left us last Saturday”.

“None of us know what Heaven will be like, but it won’t be quiet with Henry up there.” 

He said that Henry had likely issued God with a list of demands upon his arrival to Heaven and would be “busy trying to organise things up in that place!” 

Henry had started working at age 13 and was known for his work ethic, a trait he had passed onto his family, Fr Chestnutt said. Henry had been a lifelong member of Unite trade union and was described as “passionate about workers' rights”.

Henry Moloney was a glassblower for 36 years at Waterford Crystal before his retirement in 1987. A dedicated trade union member, for which he was issued a prestigious Gold Medal from the Transport & General Workers Union, he was one of several retired employees who helped keep the Waterford Crystal sit-in going when the workers had to attend union meetings off-site.

The group was known as Dad's Army and helped to organise more than 6,000 people from Waterford and the South East to protest the factory's proposed closure in 2009.

It was this desire to correct injustice and willingness to organise his fellow workers that Moloney was best known for. 

“When he saw injustice, he didn’t sit back and hope it would change, he took to the streets.” 

His children, Henry and Mary, who delivered the eulogy together at the mass, said they had sat down to write the eulogy together but “when we got to 10 pages, we stopped”. Such was the character of their father.

His son said there would “never be another Henry Moloney” and said he was “one of a kind” even though he shared his father’s name.

Adored by his family, Henry was a persistent man who took every opportunity to work on the causes dear to his heart.

Henry Jr told a story of his father hoping to put union posters at the back of the local church. He had entered the church to find confession afoot. Instead of coming back later, he entered the confessional and gave his repentance to the priest. As he was leaving the cubicle after receiving his penance, he turned to the priest and said, “While I’ve got you here, could I put up some posters at the back of the church!”

In a statement, the Waterford Council of Trade Unions said, “Sad news today hearing of the passing of Henry Moloney, a stalwart of WCTU and of the Waterford trade union and working-class movement for well over 60 years.”

They described him as “a master glass blower and ATGWU/Unite rep at Waterford Crystal over many decades”, and said, “he was at the forefront of many campaigns down the years, including ground rents, tax campaigns, 24/7 Cardiac Care at UHW, and anti-water charges campaigns.”

“He was renowned also for his charity work as well as local, national and international solidarity work with workers in struggle, and in campaigns for social justice in Ireland and abroad.”

Online, there was an outpouring of tributes to the activist, especially among Waterford locals and representatives in the labour unions that Henry had worked with during his life. The consensus was that Henry Moloney was a gentleman, an honest friend to the working man and woman, and a champion of many social and charitable causes.

Labour Party TD Ivana Bacik said she “had the pleasure of meeting Henry and I know how strongly engaged and committed he was to his work with Waterford Crystal and his trade union activism. Sending sincere sympathies and best wishes at this sad time.”

The staff of Assisi House, a cause for which he worked on during his later years, also issued their “deepest condolences from all the staff and members at Assisi House. Henry was a lifelong patron of Assisi House and as a member in his later years.”