Sean Forde
A Dubliner, Sean has been described as one of nature’s gentlemen. In 1948 Sean, together with Séamus P. MacEoin, attended a course organised by UCD in Social & Economic Studies after which Séamus read a paper on the co-operative movement and it was on this occasion that they met Nora Herlihy for the first time.
In early 1954, the Dublin Central Co-operative Society (DCCS) was founded and later that year affiliated to the National Co-operative Council. Sean, was one of the founding members of the DCCS.
In May 1957 Sean, Nora and Séamus attended the Daonscoil in Skerries to promote the idea of the Credit Union. Such was the enthusiasm that the Credit Union idea generated at the Daonscoil the three then formed the Credit Union Extension Service (CUES) and Sean was its first Chairman. Out of CUES emerged the fledging Credit Union Movement. Sean attended many meetings and travelled the length and breath of the country in the promotion of the credit union idea and ethos. In Sean’s own words in 1979 ‘I was prepared to go anywhere at any time’.
At the formation of the Credit Union League of Ireland (now known as Irish League of Credit Unions) on the 7th February 1960, Sean was appointed Vice-President, with Fr. Paddy Gallagher as President. Following many years of active service at the ILCU and Chapter Level his last position as office holder expired when his term as League Supervisor concluded in April 1988. Sean was a great help to credit unions with their teething problems and his forte was providing the close personal support and advice that a new credit union often needed.
Over four decades, Sean Forde was an inspiration to the many thousands of credit union people with whom he came in contact. His belief in mutual self-help through the credit union philosophy was unbounded.
Along with his co-founders, he has made an inestimable contribution to the building up of the co-operative savings and credit system, known in Ireland, as the Credit Union Movement.
Sean was a gentle man, an eloquent speaker of quick humour, but above all was dedicated to the ideals of self-help for the betterment of his fellow human beings. He was involved with the Credit Union Movement since its inception and right up to the time of his death.
Sean Forde passed to his eternal reward peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, 23rd December 1992, following a short hospitalisation. His earthly sojourn was one of quiet living concerned with the care of his mother, his involvement with the Haddington Road Choir, his love of the Irish language and his consuming interest in the Credit Union Movement.
Sean Forde, Founder