By Tom Deignan

Back in October a group of Irish activists got together for the same reason a bunch of grizzled New York political veterans gathered just last week — to remind everyone that former New York Governor Hugh L. Carey is not only still alive, but kicking.

Last week, the 86 year-old Carey, a Brooklyn native credited with saving New York City from bankruptcy in the mid-1970s, was technically honoured for his unflinching opposition to the death penalty. But it gave New York power brokers — as well as Carey — a chance reflect on a colourful Irish American career that is far from over.

Say this for Carey — he does not shy away from monumental challenges. Not only did he grapple with New York City’s wrecked finances by forcing the city to tighten its belt by declaring that “the days of wine and roses are over.”

He has also thrown himself into fatherhood like few others, raising a total of 14 children (over two marriages) and 24 grandchildren. He also wishes he ran for president and remains active in the Northern Ireland peace process.

A few weeks back, Carey’s contribution to the peace effort in Northern Ireland was hailed by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy. Carey, as well as Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, was given the William J. Flynn Initiative for Peace award.

“Governor Hugh L. Carey needs no introduction to New Yorkers who salute him for the leading role he played during the 1970s in rescuing New York City from bankruptcy,” said a rep from the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a 30 year old group which dedicates itself to the resolution of conflicts which threaten U.S. interests.

Previous winners of the William J. Flynn Award include former Senator George J. Mitchell, the facilitator of Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement, and Mo Mowlam, the late British secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

“What is less widely known (about Carey) is the pioneering work that Governor Carey performed in the pursuit of peace in Northern Ireland. In the early 1980s, he denounced the use of violence as a means of bringing about necessary political change in that fractured land.

“Governor Carey and other Irish American politicians such as Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill became known as the Four Horsemen, although the end result of their work was hardly apocalyptic. Instead, it produced an environment that is conducive to the affirmation of life by encouraging investments in people, projects, and the peace process.”

Born in Brooklyn to Dennis and Margaret (Collins) Carey, the former governor fought in World War II before serving over a decade in Congress. A loyal Democrat, he was elected governor in 1975 as New York City teetered on the brink of financial ruin.

Having helped avert that catastrophe, Carey had serious thoughts of becoming America’s second Irish Catholic president. Last week, Carey said one of his greatest regrets was not challenging Jimmy Carter for the Democratic nod in 1976.

However, his first wife had just died. This and the large family for which he had to care made a White House run virtually impossible.

Instead, he stayed in the brutal boxing ring of state politics, earning a reputation as a fierce liberal (much to the chagrin of some conservative Irish Americans) who fought for the underdog.

But inevitably the rigors of Albany got to Carey and by 1982, having won re-election once before, he chose not to run again.

Since then, whether it is Northern Ireland or various advocacy issues, Carey has remained active in politics. The Irish Hunger Memorial in downtown Manhattan, meanwhile, was a project of the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority, suggesting the broader impact he’s had on both New York City and Irish America.

What challenges lies ahead for Carey? Well, it appears he himself will fill a hole historians should have long ago. He has been quoted as saying he will begin writing his memoirs soon.

However, no one knows how this great Irish story will end just yet.

(Contact Sidewalks at tomdeignan@earthlink.net.)