Séamus P. MacEoin
Born in Connahy, Co Kilkenny Séamus as a young boy moved together with
his parents to Windgap, Co. Kilkenny where he attended Callan Christian
Brothers School and later went as a boarder to St. Kieran’s College. He
joined the army during the emergency, 1939/1945, and afterwards he
entered the Civil Service where he served in the Land Commission,
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare. At the
time of his retirement he was serving as Manager of the Employment
Exchange in Dun Laoghaire.
Séamus was married to Eilis, had three daughters, Maeve, Orla and Daire
and one son, Fergal, he was very devoted to his family.
In 1948 Séamus, together with Sean Forde, attended a course organised by
UCD in Social & Economic Studies after which Seamus read a paper on the
Co-operative Movement and it was on this occasion that he met Nora
Herlihy for the first time.
During the period between 1948 and 1954 Séamus gave many lectures and read many papers on Co-operation thus assisting in the lead up to the introduction of the Credit Union Movement.
In early 1954, the Dublin Central Co-operative Society (DCCS) was
founded and later that year affiliated to the National Co-operative
Council. Séamus, being one of the founding members of the DCCS along
with Nora, Sean and some others, was elected its Chairman following the
death of the then Chairman Tomas O’Hogain.
In 1957 Séamus, Nora, Sean and others formed the Credit Union Extension
Service (CUES). Séamus was appointed Treasurer and PRO and was kept busy
in the promotion and publicity areas, he established vital contacts with
newspapers and radio, he organised ceili’s and old-time dancing to raise
funds, thus playing a vital role in the promotion of CUES.
The first Credit Union in Ireland was formed in Dun Laoghaire, Séamus being one of the founder members. In 1960 the Civil Service Credit Union was formed by Séamus who also became a member of that credit union. The Civil Service Credit Union was the first vocational credit union in Ireland.
The credit union movement’s first newsletter, ‘Creidmheas’ was issued in 1962, Séamus being the editor. He was also the author of an article in 1964 ‘The Credit Union and the Farmer’ issued in booklet form, widely read by members of various co-operatives and credit unions. He was for some time a member of the Editorial Committee of the ‘Credit Union Review’ and he wrote many published articles on the credit union and co-operatives.
Séamus was involved with the Credit Union Movement since its inception and right up to the time of his death. He served on the League Board of Directors and League Supervisory Committee for many years, during which time he was Liaison Officer to some of the Dublin Chapters.
For thirteen years Séamus served on the Credit Union Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of Nora Herlihy. In 1988 Séamus, along with some help, was instrumental in activating the CDS (Co-operative Development Society) with particular interest in helping existing co-operatives and forming new ones.
Séamus never tired of meeting with and talking to people, committees, boards and organisations. Séamus was a gentle, considerate and dedicated man, a fluent Irish speaker, and he loved the co-operative movement and particularly the credit union movement. Before he died Séamus had the pleasure of seeing his beloved ‘Credit Union Operating Principles’ enshrined in the Credit Union Standard Rule Book.
Séamus P. MacEoin, Founder