Aengus Finucane
Encyclopedia
Aengus Finucane was a Roman Catholic missionary of the Spiritan Fathers
order, who organized food shipments from Portugal
to the Igbo people
during the Nigerian Civil War
.
, Republic of Ireland
. He was educated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers
until 1950. He was ordained
in 1958.
during the Nigerian Civil War
, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, which took place during 1967-1970. The Nigerian government had blocked food supplies to the successionist
state of Biafra
causing starvation in the country. This was reported on international television stations and received worldwide condemnation.
In an effort to save the population from starvation, Finucane organized food to be sent through makeshift airstrips, including one at Uli
, Bafaria, and cargo trips with other Dublin-based workers. This led to the formation of the organisation Concern Worldwide
in 1968. Finucane worked with Concern for 41 years and viewed his mission as "love in action".
Finucance was banished from Nigeria in January 1970. Following this, he gained a diploma in development studies
and a Masters of Arts
degree in Third World
poverty studies from the Swansea University
. In 1971, he was again giving food supplies to the population during the operations which were ongoing in Bangladesh
and flew often with Mother Teresa
during the drop-offs.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) invited Finucane to lead a survey of people displaced in Southeast Asia. During the 1980s and 1990s Finucane led the concern, becoming involved in the response to famine in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Rwanda.
His funeral was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Kimmage and was attended by hundreds. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin
and Minister for Overseas Development, Peter Power
dubbed him as a "tireless force for good across the globe for more than four decades". Finucane is buried at Dardistown Cemetery.
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
order, who organized food shipments from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
to the Igbo people
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
during the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
.
Early life
Finucane was born on April 26, 1932 in the city of LimerickLimerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He was educated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
until 1950. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in 1958.
Career
Finucane contributed humanitarian aidHumanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
during the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, which took place during 1967-1970. The Nigerian government had blocked food supplies to the successionist
Succession of states
Succession of states is a theory and practice in international relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created sovereign state by other states, based on a perceived historical relationship the new state has with a prior state...
state of Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
causing starvation in the country. This was reported on international television stations and received worldwide condemnation.
In an effort to save the population from starvation, Finucane organized food to be sent through makeshift airstrips, including one at Uli
Uli
Uli may refer to:*Uli, Nigeria, a town*Mansa Wali Keita, the second mansa of the Mali Empire, also known as Uli of Mali*Uli , traditional designs drawn by the Igbo people of Nigeria...
, Bafaria, and cargo trips with other Dublin-based workers. This led to the formation of the organisation Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide is Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian agency. Since its foundation over 40 years ago it has worked in 50 countries and currently employs 3,200 staff in 25 countries around the world. Concern works to help those living in the world's poorest countries to achieve real and...
in 1968. Finucane worked with Concern for 41 years and viewed his mission as "love in action".
Finucance was banished from Nigeria in January 1970. Following this, he gained a diploma in development studies
Development studies
Development studies is a multidisciplinary branch of social science which addresses issues of concern to developing countries. It has historically placed a particular focus on issues related to social and economic development, and its relevance may therefore extend to communities and regions...
and a Masters of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
poverty studies from the Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
. In 1971, he was again giving food supplies to the population during the operations which were ongoing in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and flew often with Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
during the drop-offs.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR) invited Finucane to lead a survey of people displaced in Southeast Asia. During the 1980s and 1990s Finucane led the concern, becoming involved in the response to famine in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Rwanda.
Death
Finucane died on October 6, 2009 in a Dublin Spiritan Fathers' nursing home in Kimmage Manor at the age of 77. His death followed after being diagnosed with cancer the same year.His funeral was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Kimmage and was attended by hundreds. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
and Minister for Overseas Development, Peter Power
Peter Power
Peter Power is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Limerick East constituency from 2002 to 2011, and served as Minister of State for Overseas Development from 2008 to 2011.-Early and private life:...
dubbed him as a "tireless force for good across the globe for more than four decades". Finucane is buried at Dardistown Cemetery.