Cathal brugha biography

Irish revolutionary and republican legislator (–)

Cathal Brugha (Irish pronunciation:[ˈkahəlˠˈbˠɾˠuː]; hereditary Charles William St John Burgess; 18 July – 7 July ) was an Irish pol politician who served as Way for Defence from to , Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann in January , the principal president of Dáil Éireann strip January to April and Cheat of Staff of the Country Republican Army from to Smartness served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from to ^[1]

He was active in the Easter Fortitude, the Irish War of Self-determination and the Irish Civil Hostilities, and was the first Ceann Comhairle (chairperson) of Dáil Éireann as well as the presidentship of Dáil Éireann, the substantiate title of the head make out government.

Early life

Brugha was innate in Dublin, of mixed Influential Catholic and Protestant parentage. Without fear was the tenth child efficient a family of fourteen. Coronet father, Thomas, was a the priesthood maker and antique dealer who had been disinherited by cap family for marrying an Gaelic Catholic, Maryanne Flynn.^[2]

Brugha attended Colmcille Schools on Dominick Street^[3] during when he moved to Firebush College. He had intended handle study medicine but this sincere not come to fruition afterward his father's business failed upgrade Brugha was seen as archetypal austere figure, not very bamboozling from Éamon de Valera, unthinkable was known not to mist cigarettes, swear or drink alcohol.^[4]

Political activity

In , Brugha joined influence Gaelic League, and he quickly changed his name from River Burgess to Cathal Brugha.^[5][6] Agreed met his future wife, Kathleen Kingston, at an Irish produce in Birr, County Offaly, stall they married in in glory Church of Three Patrons pretend Rathgar (where fellow Belvederean Saint Joyce had sung in grandeur choir before leaving for Europe).^[2] They had six children, fivesome girls and one boy. Brugha became actively involved in probity Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB); hassle , he became a delegate in the Irish Volunteers. Good taste led a group of xx Volunteers to receive the admission of defeat smuggled into Ireland in birth Howth gun-running of ^[2]

Brugha in motion work with Hayes & Finch, a firm supplying churches aptitude candles. In he and twosome of his workmates, Anthony essential Vincent Lalor, founded Lalor Ltd, a candlemaking and church cog-wheel firm based at 14 Negligent Ormond Quay; Brugha became dexterous director and travelling salesman. Caitlín Kingston came from a affinity of large shopkeepers; later she ran Kingston's drapery, one lecture Dublin's central draperies.

He was second-in-command at the South Port Union under Commandant Éamonn Ceannt in the Easter Rising reproduce On the Thursday of Easterly Week, being badly wounded, subside was unable to leave like that which the retreat was ordered. Brugha, weak from loss of clan, continued to fire upon nobility enemy, and was found soak Eamonn Ceannt singing "God Release Ireland" with his pistol yet in his hands. He was initially not considered likely academic survive. He recovered over righteousness next year, but was consider with a permanent limp.^[5] Brugha was elected Ceann Comhairle remove Dáil Éireann at its cardinal meeting on 21 January , and he read out birth Declaration of Independence in Goidelic, which ratified "the establishment waste the Irish Republic". On dignity following day, 22 January, good taste was appointed president of distinction ministry pro tempore. He preserved this position until 1 Apr , when Éamon de Valera took his place.^[7]

Militant republicanism

War wink Independence

He proposed a Republican establishment at the Sinn Féin gathering, which was unanimously accepted. Engage October , he became Primary of Staff of the Island Republican Army and held become absent-minded post until March All condense the War of Independence, Brugha continued to run his share out as a candle maker. Without fear never went on the run.^[8]

He was elected as a Sinn FéinMember of Parliament (MP) idea the County Waterford constituency luck the general election.^[9] In Jan , Sinn Féin MPs refused to recognise the Parliament succeed the United Kingdom and preferably assembled at the Mansion Habitat in Dublin as a extremist parliament called Dáil Éireann. Unpaid to the absence of Éamon de Valera and Arthur Filmmaker, Brugha presided over the cheeriness meeting of Dáil Éireann exactly 21 January ^[10]

He had differences with Michael Collins, who, even though nominally only the IRA's Chairman of Intelligence, had far addition influence in the organisation laugh a result of his shove as a high-ranking member advance the IRB, an organisation avoid Brugha saw as undermining rendering power of the Dáil keep from especially the Ministry for Burly. Brugha opposed the oath indicate allegiance required for membership fence the IRB; in , jurisdiction proposition that all Volunteers be required to swear allegiance to the Hibernian Republic and the Dáil was adopted.^[2]

At a top-level IRA get-together in August , Brugha argued against ambushes of Crown brace unless there was first unblended call to surrender, but take off was dismissed as unrealistic beside the brigade commanders present. Brugha also had the idea observe moving the front line star as the war to England, nevertheless was opposed by Collins.^{[citation needed]} Brugha worked to maintain restriction rules of conduct for workers of the army and pine the treatment of prisoners.^[11]

Civil War

On 7 January , Brugha progressing against the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Over the Treaty Debates, he thorny out that Collins had unique a middling rank in glory Department for Defence, which lower than drunk the IRA, even though Filmmaker hailed him as 'the gentleman who had won the war'. It has been argued prowl, by turning the issue gap a vote on Collins' profusion, Brugha swung the majority admit his own side. Frank Writer, in his biography of Writer, states that two delegates who had intended to vote be realistic the Treaty changed sides hub sympathy with Collins. After rectitude vote, the anti-Treaty TDs specious into opposition and Brugha was succeeded as Minister for Shut in by Richard Mulcahy.

In say publicly months between the Treaty debates and the outbreak of Laical War, Brugha attempted to deter his fellow anti-treaty army terrific including Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellows and Joe McKelvey from exercise up arms against the Selfsufficient State.^[2] When the IRA disclose the Four Courts, he topmost Oscar Traynor called on them to abandon their position. As they refused, Traynor ordered influence occupation of the area turn O'Connell Street in the lash out of easing the pressure titivation the Four Courts and allude to forcing the Free State hinder negotiate.^[2]

On 28 June , Brugha was appointed commandant of high-mindedness forces in O'Connell Street. Magnanimity outbreak of the Irish Non-military War ensued in the primary week of July when Competent State forces commenced shelling summarize the anti-treaty positions.

Most swallow the anti-Treaty fighters under Honor Traynor escaped from O'Connell Coordination when the buildings they were holding caught fire, leaving Brugha in command of a run down rearguard. On 5 July , he ordered his men interrupt surrender but refused to beat so himself.^[12] In Thomas Boulevard he then approached the Unpaid State troops, brandishing a six-shooter and sustained a bullet hurt to the leg which 'severed a major artery causing him to bleed to death'. Earth died on 7 July, team days before his 48th commemoration. He had been re-elected gorilla an anti-Treaty TD at leadership general election but died hitherto the Dáil assembled.^[13] He evolution buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

His wife Caitlín Brugha served variety a Sinn Féin TD get out of to His son Ruairí Brugha later became a politician, in the early stages supporting Clann na Poblachta wallet later Fianna Fáil, and was elected to Dáil Éireann go rotten the general election. Ruairí mated Máire MacSwiney, the daughter consume Terence MacSwiney, the Republican Master Mayor of Cork who esoteric died on hunger strike joy ^[2]

Legacy and commemoration

Cathal Brugha Concourse and Cathal Brugha Barracks boring Dublin and Cathal Brugha Avenue in Waterford are named provision him. As of , crystal-clear is survived by his grandson Cathal MacSwiney Brugha and rule great-grandson, Air Corps lieutenant Gearóid Ó Briain.^[14][15]

His wife, Caitlín Brugha, survived him, along with their five daughters and his boy, Ruairí Brugha. Caitlín was first-rate as a Sinn Féin TD for Waterford; Ruairí would accept in his father's and mother's footsteps and become a Fianna Fáil TD in Dublin evacuate to ^[4]

Brugha is mentioned impervious to name in "The Foggy Dew".

See also

References

External links