Denis Mulligan, who passed away peacefully in May of this year aged 98, was a lifelong labor champion, friend of the Irish republican cause and a pillar of the Irish American community of San Francisco.
Denis was a native of the townland of Aughaga, Moyne, Co. Longford.
He trained as a cabinet maker in Dublin and worked there for two years before setting off by boat to Canada in 1952. He worked his way across Canada, saving his money with the intention of fulfilling his dream of coming to America.
Denis emigrated to San Francisco in 1954. Hemet Kathleen Cronin at a St. Patrick's Day dance at the Knights of the Red Branch Hall and they were married in 1956. They settled in the Sunset district - a redoubt of the Golden Gate city's Irish - where they raised their six children.
Denis was a proud member of Carpenters Local Union 22 for over 70 years.
Irish community advocate in San Francisco Ciarán Scally paid tribute to Denis as a "life-long Irish republican". "We were honored to have Denis as a friend and ally in all the work of the Knights of the Red Branch," said Ciarán. "He worked actively for the reunification of his native country and was always a font of knowledge and source of encouragement in all our efforts."
Denis was predeceased by his wife Kathleen. He is survived by his six children Marie, John, Kathleen, Denis, Eileen and Patrick; thirteen grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews in the US and Ireland. Also survived by his brother Michael in Ireland.
