Appendix: Biographical Glossary
Aiken, Frank b. 1898 in Co. Armagh; educated by Christian Brothers and at St Colman’s College, Newry; joined Irish Volunteers 1914, Sinn Féin 1917; Chairman of Armagh Comhairle Ceanntair; OC Newry Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1920, OC 4th Northern Division, IRA 1921; tried to stay neutral during Treaty split, eventually took anti-Treaty side 1922; Chief of Staff IRA 1923–5; Sinn Féin TD for Louth 1923, re-elected as Fianna Fáil TD for next fifty years; Minister for Defence 1932–9; Minister for Finance 1945–8; Minister for External Affairs 1951–4 and 1957–69; Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) 1965–9; d. 1983.
Ashe, Thomas b. 1885 in Co. Kerry; Gaelic Leaguer and pipe-band enthusiast; principal of Lusk National School, Co. Dublin; commandant of 5th Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1916; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released June 1917; rearrested August 1917; led hunger strike in Mountjoy gaol; died under forcible feeding September 1917.
Barton, Robert b. 1881 at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow; educated at Rugby School and Oxford; joined Dublin Fusiliers 1914; resigned commission 1916; joined Sinn Féin 1917; MP for Wicklow West 1918; TD for Kildare–Wicklow 1921; Dáil Minister for Agriculture, then Economic Affairs; in prison Jan. 1920–July 1921; member of Irish delegation in London 1921; signed but opposed Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921–2; lost seat in 1923, retired from politics; Chairman of Agricultural Commission 1934–54; d. 1975.
Béaslaí, Piaras (Pierce Beasley) b. 1881 in Liverpool; educated at Jesuit school; joined Gaelic League, worked to remove Douglas Hyde as president 1915; vice-OC 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1916; Director of Publicity, Irish Volunteer Executive 1918; Sinn Féin MP for Kerry East 1918; editor of An tOglaċ 1919; TD for Kerry–Limerick 1921, re-elected 1922; official biographer of Michael Collins 1924; d. 1965.
Blythe, Ernest (Earnán de Blaghd) b. 1889 in Co. Antrim; government clerk; junior reporter for North Down Herald 1909; Gaelic Leaguer and Volunteer organizer; deported 1915; Sinn Féin MP/TD for North Monaghan 1918; minister in Dáil Cabinet 1919–21; Minister for Finance in Free State government 1922; Vice-President (deputy prime minister) 1927–32; lost parliamentary seat 1933; Senator 1933–6; retired from politics 1936; managing director of the Abbey Theatre 1941–67; repeatedly criticized for hiring actors for their Irish language rather than acting ability; d. 1975.
Boland, Harry b. 1887 in Dublin; apprenticed as cutter in tailoring department of Mary Street store; GAA player and administrator, Chairman of Dublin County Committee 1911; joined 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1913; in GPO 1916; Sinn Féin MP for Roscommon South 1918; envoy to USA 1919; TD for Mayo South–Roscommon South 1921, re-elected 1922; voted against Treaty 1922; Quartermaster General IRA 1922; killed in Skerries August 1922.
Brugha, Cathal (Charles Burgess) b. 1874 in Dublin; educated Belvedere College; co-founder of candle-making business; Gaelic Leaguer 1899; vice-commandant 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers in South Dublin Union Easter 1916; seriously wounded and permanently crippled; Sinn Féin MP/TD 1918; presided over first meeting of Dáil Éireann 1919; Minister for Defence in Dáil Cabinet; opposed Treaty 1922; killed during fighting in O’Connell Street in civil war July 1922.
Childers, Robert Erskine b. 1870 in London; grew up in Co. Wicklow; educated Haileybury and Cambridge; Clerk of the House of Commons 1895–1910; fought in Boer War with City Imperial Volunteers; wrote In the Ranks of the CIV 1900; The Riddle of the Sands 1903; War and the Arme Blanche 1910; became a home ruler 1908 and wrote The Framework of Home Rule 1911; ran in IV guns at Howth 1914; served in Royal Naval Air Service 1914–19; awarded DSC 1917; Secretary of Irish Convention 1917; Director of Propaganda in Dáil government 1919–21, edited Irish Bulletin; Secretary to Irish delegation to London 1921; opposed Treaty 1922; fought on anti-Treaty side in civil war; executed 1922.
Collins, Michael b. 1890 in Co. Cork; Post Office clerk in London; adjutant to Joseph Plunkett in GPO 1916; interned in Frongoch, released December 1916; Irish Volunteer organizer, and Sinn Féin MP 1918; Director of Organization (later Intelligence), Volunteer GHQ; President of the Supreme Council of the IRB 1919; signatory of Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921; Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army, Irish Free State, 1922; killed in ambush, Co. Cork, 22 August 1922.
Cosgrave, William T. b. 1880 in Dublin; Sinn Féin member of Dublin Corporation 1909; captain, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers in South Dublin Union 1916; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; Sinn Féin MP for Kilkenny 1917; released from gaol 1918; Minister for Local Government in Dáil Cabinet 1919; President of the Executive Council (prime minister), Irish Free State, after death of Michael Collins in 1922; leader of Cumann na nGaedheal party 1922–33, and Fine Gael party 1934–44; d. 1965.
De Valera, Eamon b. 1882 in New York; mathematics teacher and Gaelic Leaguer; commandant of 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1916; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released June 1917; MP for East Clare July 1917; President (Príomh-Aire) of Sinn Féin and Irish Volunteers, October 1917; President of Dáil Eireann 1919–21; opposed Treaty and joined IRA 1922; left Sinn Féin party to found Fianna Fáil 1926; President of the Executive Council (prime minister), Irish Free State 1933–7; Taoiseach (prime minister), Eire, under new constitution 1937–48, 1951–4, 1957–9; President of the Irish Republic 1959–73; d. 1975.
Dillon, John b. 1851 in Co. Dublin; nationalist MP 1880–83, 1885–1918 (East Mayo); Parnell’s deputy in charge of ‘Plan of Campaign’ 1886; anti-Parnellite leader 1891–1900; deputy leader of reunited nationalist party (UIL) 1900–1918, and leader 1918 after death of John Redmond; lost East Mayo seat to Eamon de Valera December 1918; d. 1927.
Figgis, Darrell b. 1882 in Rathmines, Dublin; family emigrated to India, returned 1892; worked in family tea brokerage in London; joined Irish Volunteers 1913; moved to Achill Island to learn Irish 1913; accompanied Erskine Childers on Howth gun-running 1914; in Reading gaol 1916–17; Hon. Secretary of Sinn Féin 1917; arrested and deported to England 1918; editor of the Republic; led Commission of Inquiry into the Resources and Industries of Ireland 1919–21; opposed electoral pact 1922, expelled from Sinn Féin; beard cut off by republicans 1922; TD for Dublin County 1922, re-elected 1923; on Constitution Committee 1922, broadcasting committee 1923; committed suicide 1925.
Ginnell, Laurence b. 1852 in Westmeath; barrister; MP for Westmeath North 1906; organized Ranch War 1906; expelled from Irish nationalist party 1909; independent nationalist MP 1910; ejected from House of Commons for accusing H. H. Asquith of murder 1916; joined Sinn Féin 1917; TD for Westmeath 1918; Director of Propaganda in Dáil government 1919; Dáil representative in Argentina 1920; opposed Treaty 1922; ejected from Free State Dáil 1922; republican envoy to USA 1922; d. 1923.
Griffith, Arthur b. 1871 in Dublin; printer and journalist; founded the United Irishman and Sinn Féin; Vice-President of Sinn Féin party 1917; Sinn Féin MP 1918; Acting President of Dáil government 1919–20 during de Valera’s visit to USA; chief negotiator and signatory of Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921; President of Dáil and Minister in Irish Free State Provisional Government 1922; d. 12 August 1922.
Johnson, Thomas b. 1872 in Liverpool; worked for Irish fish merchant; commercial traveller 1900; Vice-President Irish TUC 1913; President 1915; co-operated with Eoin MacNeill over employers’ threats to sack members of Irish Volunteers 1915–16; organized anti-conscription strike 1918; co-drafted Democratic Programme of first Dáil Éireann; Secretary of ILP/TUC 1920–28; TD for Co. Dublin 1922–7 and Leader of Labour party; Senator 1928–36; d. 1963.
Lynch, Liam b. 1893 in Co. Limerick; apprentice in hardware trade in Mitchelstown, Cork, 1910; joined Gaelic League 1910; Irish Volunteers 1913; adjutant, Fermoy battalion 1918; OC North Cork (Cork No. 2) Brigade 1919; OC 1st Southern Division IRA 1921; opposed Treaty 1922; Chief of Staff, IRA 1922; killed in action 1923.
Mac Curtain, Tomás b. 1884 in Co. Cork; Secreta
ry of Blackpool branch of Gaelic League 1902; joined Sinn Féin and IRB 1907; Fianna Éireann organizer 1911; commanded Cork Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1916; imprisoned in Wakefield, Frongoch and Reading 1916–17; Sinn Féin councillor for Cork North-West in 1920 local elections; elected lord mayor of Cork January 1920; assassinated in his home 20 March 1920. Coroner’s jury found verdict of murder against the RIC and the Prime Minister, Lloyd George.
MacEntee, Seán b. 1889 in Belfast; educated St Malachy’s College and Belfast Municipal College of Technology; electrical engineer and patent agent; with Dundalk Volunteers in 1916, joined GPO garrison; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released 1917; Sinn Féin MP/TD 1918; Fianna Fáil TD 1927–69; government Minister 1932–48, 1951–4, 1957–65; Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) 1959–65; d. 1984.
MacEoin, Sean (John McKeon) b. 1893 in Co. Longford; trained as blacksmith in father’s forge, took over family firm 1913; joined Irish Volunteers and IRB 1913; OC Longford Brigade 1920; imprisoned for murder 1921; GOC Western Command 1922; GOC Curragh 1927; Chief of Staff 1929; Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Leitrim–Sligo 1929, Longford–Westmeath 1932–7, 1948–65, Athlone–Longford 1937–48; Minister for Justice 1948–51; Minister for Defence 1951, 1954–7; ran for presidency in 1945 and 1959; d. 1973.
MacNeill, Eoin b. 1867 in Co. Antrim; law clerk; co-founder of Gaelic League 1893; editor of Gaelic Journal, later An Claideamh Soluis; Professor of Early Irish History, University College Dublin 1908; founder and first Chief of Staff, Irish Volunteers 1913; sentenced to penal servitude for life 1916; released 1917; Sinn Féin MP/TD for the National University of Ireland 1918; Minister for Education, Irish Free State 1922; member of Boundary Commission 1924–5; forced to resign ministry and lost parliamentary seat 1927; Chairman of Irish Historical Manuscripts Commission 1927; d. 1945.
MacSwiney, Terence b. 1879 in Cork city; trained as an accountant; philosophy degree at Royal University 1907; co-founded Cork Dramatic Society with Daniel Corkery 1908; plays included The Revolutionist, The Holocaust and The Warriors of Coole; peripatetic teacher, Co. Cork 1911, resigned to become full-time Irish Volunteer organizer, 1915; vice-commandant, Cork Brigade, Irish Volunteers 1916; Sinn Féin MP/TD for West Cork 1918; elected lord mayor of Cork after murder of Tomás Mac Curtain; arrested and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment 16 August 1920; died on his seventy-fourth day of hunger strike, 25 October 1920.
Markievicz, Constance (née Gore-Booth) b. 1868 in London; grew up at Lissadell, Co. Sligo; studied at Slade School, London 1893; married Count Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz 1900 (daugher Maeve b. 1901); co-founder of United Arts Club, Dublin 1907; joined Sinn Féin and Inghinidhe na hÉireann 1908; co-founder of Fianna Éireann 1909, and Irish Citizen Army, 1913; in St Stephen’s Green garrison Easter 1916; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released June 1917; converted to Catholicism; first woman MP (for Dublin) 1918; Minister for Labour in Dáil Cabinet 1919; opposed Treaty 1922; joined Fianna Fáil 1926; TD 1927; d. 1927.
Mellows, Liam b. 1892 in Lancashire; grew up in Co. Wexford; educated Royal Hibernian Military School; clerk in Dublin 1905; joined Fianna Éireann 1909; joined IRB 1912; full-time organizer, Irish Volunteers, Co. Galway 1914–15; deported 1915; returned Easter 1916 to lead Galway Volunteers; escaped to USA after rebellion, worked on Gaelic American; agent for de Valera’s US tour 1919–20; Director of Purchases, IRA 1921; Sinn Féin TD for Galway 1921; member of Four Courts anti-Treaty garrison in civil war June 1922; executed December 1922.
Mulcahy, Richard b. 1886 in Waterford; educated by Christian Brothers; worked as Post Office engineer 1902; joined Gaelic League and IRB; joined Irish Volunteers 1913; fought with Thomas Ashe at Ashbourne 1916; OC Dublin Brigade 1918, Chief of Staff GHQ 1919; Sinn Féin TD for Dublin North-West 1921, re-elected 1922; Minister for Defence 1922; succeeded Collins as commander-in-chief; Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Dublin North 1923–37; Minister for Defence 1924; Minister for Local Government and Public Health 1927–32; elected to Seanad Éireann 1937; Fine Gael TD for Dublin North-East 1938–43; Leader of Fine Gael party 1944; Minister for Education 1948–51, 1954–7; retired 1960; d. 1971.
O’Brien, William b. 1881 in Co. Cork; joined Irish Socialist Republican party 1898; close associate of Connolly and James Larkin; secretary of lockout committee during 1913 labour dispute; anti-conscription campaigner; deported and interned in Frongoch and Reading 1916; deported to Wormwood Scrubs 1920, released after hunger strike; Labour party TD for Dublin South City 1922–3, for Tipperary 1927 and 1937–8; General Secretary ITGWU; d. 1968.
O’Duffy, Eoin b. 1892 in Co. Monaghan; apprenticed as engineer in Wexford, engineer and architect in Monaghan; joined Gaelic League and GAA 1912; joined Irish Volunteers 1917; imprisoned 1918; OC Monaghan Brigade 1918; OC 2nd Northern Division 1921; Sinn Féin TD for Monaghan 1921, re-elected 1922; Director of Organization, GHQ 1921; Assistant Chief of Staff, GHQ IRA 1921; Chief Liaison Officer in Ulster 1921; Chief of Staff 1922; Commissioner Civil Guard 1922; leader of Army Comrades’ Association (Blueshirts) 1933; launched National Corporate party 1935; tried to form Irish Volunteer Legion to fight with Germans against Russia 1941; d. 1944.
O’Higgins, Kevin b. 1892 in Queen’s County (Co. Leix); educated at Clongowes, St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ school in Portlaoise, and St Patrick’s College Maynooth; studied law at University College Dublin; joined Irish Volunteers 1915, Sinn Féin MP for Queen’s County 1918; Assistant Minister for Local Government 1919; TD for Leix–Offaly 1922, re-elected 1923; Minister for Home Affairs 1922 (renamed Justice 1924); Assistant Adjutant General on army general staff 1922; Minister for External Affairs 1925; assassinated 1927.
O’Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh), Seán T. b. 1882 in Dublin; Gaelic Leaguer, joined Celtic Literary Society; Sinn Féin 1905; Sinn Féin member of Dublin Corporation 1906–26; manager of An Claideamh Soluis; General Secretary Gaelic League 1915; in GPO Easter 1916; MP/TD for College Green division of Dublin 1918; Speaker of Dáil Éireann 1919; envoy to international Peace Conference, Paris, 1919; opposed Treaty 1922; joined Fianna Fáil 1926; Minister for Local Government 1933 and Vice-President of Executive Council (deputy prime minister); Minister for Finance 1941; President of Ireland 1945; d. 1966.
O’Malley, Ernie (Earnán) b. 1897 in Co. Mayo, son of a CDB official; medical student at University College Dublin; joined Irish Volunteers and Gaelic League 1917; full-time IV organizer 1918; arrested in Kilkenny 1920, escaped from Kilmainham gaol 1921; OC 2nd Southern Division, IRA 1921; opposed Treaty 1922; Assistant Chief of Staff, IRA, and OC Northern and Eastern Command 1922; captured 1922; Sinn Féin TD for Dublin North 1923–7; moved to USA, wrote memoir of war of independence and became a full-time writer; returned to Ireland 1936; conducted extensive series of interviews with former IRA men; d. 1957.
Robinson, Seamus b. 1890 in Belfast; left Scottish monastery to join Irish Volunteers 1913; OC 3rd Tipperary Brigade 1917–21; vice-OC 2nd Southern Division 1921; Sinn Féin TD for Waterford–Tipperary East 1921; opposed Treaty 1922; joined Fianna Fáil 1926; member of Seanad Éireann 1928–37; co-founder of Bureau of Military History; d. 1961.
Stack, Austin b. 1880 in Co. Kerry; GAA enthusiast and champion hurler; founder member and commandant, Kerry Irish Volunteers 1913–16; interned 1916–17, led hunger strikes in Lewes prison; released June 1917; Sinn Féin TD for West Kerry 1918; Minister for Justice in Dáil Cabinet 1919; established republican courts; IRA Deputy Chief of Staff 1921; Minister for Home Affairs 1921–2; opposed Treaty 1922; abstentionist Sinn Féin TD 1923; d. 1929.
Illustrations
1. Volunteers in uniform: Dan Breen and Maurice Crowe, 1918. Crowe has a regulation British outfit complete with Sam Browne belt; Breen’s rigout is more imaginative.
2. Volunteers in mufti: Seamus Robinson, Seán Treacy, Dan Breen and Michael Brennan together ‘on the run’ in 1919.
3. The counter-state embodied: Dáil Éireann before Eamon de Valera’s departure to the USA. A rare image of Michael Collins beside Cathal Brugha, with Arth
ur Griffith on de Valera’s right.
4. Woman power: an anti-English demonstration in Dublin, 1920.
5. The priest-king and the cardinal: Eamon de Valera and Archbishop Hayes of New York, who contributed $1,000 to the Republican Loan.
6. Comforting the poor: Constance Markievicz with the children of political prisoners.
7. Warriors and civilians: steel-helmeted British troops and curious young people in Dublin.
8. Culture clash: Auxiliary RIC cadets raiding the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Dublin.
9. Ambush: a Rolls-Royce armoured car and its crew with police under fire.
10. Martyrdom: Terence MacSwiney’s coffin being taken to Cork, escorted by Auxiliary police.
11. Master and commander: Winston Churchill and Nevil Macready go into a Cabinet conference, at Gairloch in Scotland after the Truce.
12. Street fighting: journalists and spectators watch a British raid on a Dublin store.
13. Official reprisals: a store in Dillons Cross, County Cork being wrecked by a tank, early in 1921.
14. The offensive against communications: a Rolls-Royce armoured car negotiates a road pit, June 1921.
15. Motorized force: an Auxiliary patrol in Tipperary. The first and fourth of its Crossley tenders are rigged up with anti-grenade cages.
The Republic- The Fight for Irish Independence Page 61