‘Architect’ of Constitution honoured with Waterford bust on 80th anniversary

The memorial bust by sculptor Liz O’Kane was unveiled at a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the key document, addressed by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and attended by Dan Mulhall, the Irish Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Mr Flanagan said Mr Hearne made an “outstanding contribution to the Ireland of his time and ours”.

He said: “Hearne deserves to be called the ‘architect in chief and draftsman’ of our Constitution. By the way, that is not my description of Hearne’s role in framing the Constitution: it’s Eamon de Valera’s.

“Bunreacht na hÉireann, produced just 15 years after our attainment of self-government, has served us exceptionally well this past 80 years, underpinning our democracy and providing inspiration for constitution-makers in other parts of the world.

“It was a singular achievement for our political system that a constitution was promulgated and approved by the people which firmly enshrined democratic principles and popular sovereignty.

“As our first full Ambassador in Washington from 1950 until 1960, John Hearne also initiated an important tradition which has served Ireland well this past six decades. For it was Hearne who began the St. Patrick’s Day practice of presenting a bowl of shamrock to the American President.

“I am glad to see our Ambassador in London, Dan Mulhall, back in his home city for today’s ceremony, for he will be following in John Hearne’s footsteps next month when he transfers to Washington.

“Against the background of my experience at the Department of Foreign Affairs, I am particularly pleased to be here to honour a key figure in the emergence of our Constitution and in the evolution of our diplomatic service, John Joseph Hearne, lawyer, Ambassador and proud Waterford man.”

The weekend also saw the launch in Waterford of Dr Eugene Broderick’s John Hearne: Architect of the 1937 Constitution.

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, said the biography fills a “significant lacuna” in Irish history.