Trinity Academic Publishes Book on Political Figure Tony Gregory

Dec 07, 2011

Professor of Social Work and Social Policy, Robbie Gilligan, recently launched a new book entitled Tony Gregory. The book documents the political career of the late Tony Gregory and highlights his early life from his inner-city childhood to the famous ‘Gregory Deal’ which he struck with the late Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey.

Tony Gregory shot to fame following his election to Dáil Éireann in 1982 when he negotiated the famous ‘Haughey-Gregory Deal’.  The deal ensured Gregory was guaranteed a massive cash injection for his inner-city Dublin constituency, an area beset by poverty and neglect, in return for supporting Charles Haughey as Taoiseach.  Gregory worked in local and national politics for the next 27 years.  He offered a powerful, lifelong commitment to community development, taking a stand for the poor and deprived through public action on their behalf.  His commitment resulted in him being imprisoned for promoting the rights of Dublin street traders and risking his life by standing up to drug dealers in Dublin’s inner-city Dublin in the 1980s.

Topics in the book include his early life, inner-city childhood and family background; how Tony Gregory and his fellow campaigners put their political differences aside to work for the good of their local communities; his background team and political allies; the famous Gregory Deal with Charles Haughey; drugs in the inner city; the Moore Street traders, and Gregory’s time in prison resulting from his fight for their rights.  The book also contains three picture sections with photos from Tony Gregory’s career including early family photos, demonstrations and meetings with Yasser Arafat and Fidel Castro. There is a facsimile of the original ‘Gregory Deal’ document, notes from his last speech to Dáil Éireann and a comprehensive index.

The author, Professor Robbie Gilligan’s connection with Tony Gregory began when Gregory was setting out on his political career.  Professor Gilligan was impressed by his serious and practical commitment to social justice and signed up to help him out in the early election campaigns, playing a minor part in the ‘Gregory Deal’ process.  Professor Gilligan has also authored numerous books and academic papers on Irish child care services and child development.