Clear Vision

As an indefatigable champion of the marginalised and dispossessed, Noel Clear was the very embodiment of Christ’s commandment to ‘love one another’. Best known for his innovative stewardship of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, where he served as national president from 1996 until 2002, Noel’s commitment to helping improve the lot of the poor and vulnerable informed every aspect of his life, both personally and professionally, until his untimely death, aged just sixty-five, in 2003. Noel Clear’s campaign for social justice can be traced back to his formative years growing up in Inchicore, where, as a deeply-committed youth work volunteer, he gave unstintingly of his time and energy. Later, Noel’s involvement with the Probation and Welfare Service, where he worked for almost four decades, endeared him to countless clients who experienced first-hand his deep-seated compassion and kindness. In Clear Vision, Gerry Jeffers pays tribute to this remarkable, self-effacing figure and explores the many facets of Noel’s character as campaigner, humanitarian and devoted family man. Featuring first-person testimonies from family members, as well as those who worked with him down through the years, Clear Vision offers a comprehensive portrait of a man who dedicated his life to others and whose legacy will inspire all who share in it.