fbpx
Wikipedia

Frank O'Beirne

December 14, 2023

This article is about the Fianna Fáil politician. For the Home Rule politician, see Francis O'Beirne.

John Francis O'Beirne (1898 – 7 February 1978)[1][2][3] was a farmer, businessman, Irish republican activist and Fianna Fáil politician in County Sligo.[2] He served briefly in Seanad Éireann.[1]

War of Independence edit

O'Beirne grew up in Collooney, and was an early supporter of Sinn Féin. He was arrested in February 1918 for unlawful assembly relating to commandeering of land for "conacre".[4] He refused to post bail and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.[4] In February 1919, he was arrested for illegal fundraising in Collooney, again refused to post bail, and served three months.[5] In June, he organised an aeraíocht (outdoor cultural festival) in Collooney.[6]

The Irish War of Independence was escalating, and O'Beirne was Officer Commanding of the Collooney Battalion of the Irish Republican Army (the "Old IRA").[7] After the local elections of May 1920, O'Beirne was chairman of Sligo rural district council (RDC), leading the council to accept the authority of the First Dáil.[8][9] As RDC chairman, he was ex officio a member of County Sligo county council, which passed a similar resolution when it met in June.[10][11] When Major Bryan Cooper refused to pay the "IRA rates", O'Beirne took two bullocks in lieu.[12] On 26 June, he helped to spring Frank Carty from Sligo Gaol.[13] In July, he was an adjudicator at the Dáil Courts which sat at Sooey Creamery and later at Sligo Courthouse.[14]

O'Beirne sometimes used Major Heather's Knockadoo House near Coolaney as a safehouse.[15] He led a raid on the British Army barracks in Carrick-on-Shannon.[16] He did not participate in a raid on Collooney RIC barracks in March 1921 as he was sick.[17] He was captured on 27 May 1921[18] and court-martialled for involvement in the killing of RIC constables in Ballisodare, but escaped from Sligo Gaol in June 1921 before sentence could be passed.[11][19]

Anti-treaty activity edit

O'Beirne was a close friend of Éamon de Valera, and took the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War.[2] His Collooney Battalion, now part of the "Irregulars", killed five Irish Free State Army soldiers in an ambush and captured two armoured cars.[20] Soon after he was taken prisoner along with forty men after Seán Mac Eoin launched a surprise attack on the town.[21][20]

In a 1925 by-election two vacancies in the Leitrim–Sligo constituency were to be filled; O'Beirne stood for Sinn Féin along with Samuel Holt. Holt received slightly more first preferences than O'Beirne and was elected with his transfers, along with Martin Roddy of Cumann na nGaedheal.[22] In his concession speech, O'Beirne said there were "two things he held narrow views on; one was pride in his Catholic Faith, and the other was his pride in his Irish Nationality. [...] priests and bishops [...] were not infallible as far as politics were concerned."[23]

The following November, O'Beirne was one of two men convicted in the Central Criminal Court for 'being concerned in the organisation of an illegal organisation "The Irish Republican Army"'.[24] The jury suggested the men should not be treated as criminals, while the judge said their crime was treason, punishable by death.[24] In the event, a 12-month sentence was imposed.[25]

Fianna Fáil edit

O'Beirne spent time in the United States, "reporting" to the New York IRA co-ordinator Connie Neenan in January 1927,[26] and attended prominent Clan na Gael functions in 1930–32.[27] Moss Twomey, the IRA chief of staff, had a low opinion of O'Beirne.[20] Officially he worked as a shipping agent, which was a front for acting illegally as an agent for the Irish Sweepstakes.[2][28] He returned to Ireland in the 1930s, working as a farmer and businessman, and was active in Fianna Fáil's industrial policy promoted by Seán Lemass.[2] He was elected to the Seanad in 1943 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, but was defeated in the 1944 Seanad election,[1] having also failed to be elected to the Dáil for Sligo in the general election.[22]

O'Beirne was director of several companies,[2] including Meat Exporters (Sligo) Ltd,[29] and Flemings Fireclays.[30] He was a founding director of the Sligo Industrial Development Corporation in 1953.[31] In 1955, he bought from Major Clarence H. Hillas "Sea View", a country house previously owned by the Atkinson family,[32] near the Sligo–Ballina road at Doonecoy, Templeboy.[2][33] He was a member of the Racing Board from 1965 to 1970.[34][35][36] He was killed in a car crash on the N7 near Kill, County Kildare, aged 81.[2] His wife Kathleen had died in 1969.[2][37]

References edit

  • Farry, Michael (2005) [1992]. Sligo 1914–1921 : a chronicle of conflict (PDF). Trim: Killoran Press. ISBN 0-9520135-0-9.
    • Note: the page numbers in the notes are to the 1992 edition; those in the linked 2005 electronic edition are c. 5–8 pages later
  • Gavin, Wilk (1 December 2014). Transatlantic defiance: The militant Irish republican movement in America, 1923–45. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9781847799500. Retrieved 14 October 2016.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c "Frank O'Beirne". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ex-senator killed in car crash". The Irish Times. 8 February 1978. p. 8. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Residents of a house 11 in Kilnamonagh (Ballysadare East, Sligo)". Census of Ireland 1901. National Archives. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b Farry (1992), p. 118
  5. ^ Farry (1992), p. 159
  6. ^ Farry (1992), p.169
  7. ^ Farry (1992), p.177
  8. ^ Farry (1992), pp. 201, 206
  9. ^ "Irish Local Government Elections : new provincial council chairmen". The Irish Times. 19 June 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  10. ^ Farry (1992), p. 246
  11. ^ a b "Daring affair at Sligo : Prisoners taken from the jail". The Irish Times. 30 June 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  12. ^ Farry (1992), p. 206
  13. ^ Farry (1992), p. 226
  14. ^ Farry (1992), p. 219
  15. ^ Farry (1992), p. 268
  16. ^ "Drumshanbo: death of Mr M. Mahon". Leitrim Observer. 10 April 1976. p. 8.
  17. ^ Farry (1992), p. 281
  18. ^ Farry (1992), p. 300
  19. ^ Farry (1992), p. 304
  20. ^ a b c Gillogly, James (2008). Decoding the IRA. Mercier Press Ltd. p. 205. ISBN 9781856356046. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  21. ^ Farry, Michael (2000). The aftermath of revolution : Sligo, 1921–23. Dublin: University College Dublin Press. p. 78. ISBN 1-900621-38-X.
  22. ^ a b "Frank O'Beirne". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  23. ^ "Rejoicing over the victory ; speeches at Carrick-on-Shannon". Leitrim Observer. 21 March 1925. p. 3.
  24. ^ a b "Jury's suggestion in Sligo case". Leitrim Observer. 7 November 1925. p. 4.
  25. ^ "Sent to jail: Sentences under the Treason Act". Leitrim Observer. 14 November 1925. p. 1.
  26. ^ Wilk 2014, p.57
  27. ^ Wilk 2014, pp.69, 71, 87
  28. ^ Wilk 2014, p.117
  29. ^ "Tendency to shirk work criticised; Opening of meat factory". The Irish Times. 11 December 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  30. ^ "(Personal Ads) As a mark of respect to out late director Frank O'Beirne". The Irish Times. 9 February 1978. p. 24. Retrieved 22 June 2009.{subscription required}
  31. ^ . Official website. Sligo Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  32. ^ Hanson, Helen May (1996). The Atkinson family from County Sligo, Ireland. p. 106. OCLC 34469371.
  33. ^ "House:Seaview or Doonecoy". Landed Estates Database. NUI Galway. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  34. ^ "Racing Board members". The Irish Times. 23 June 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  35. ^ Haughey, Charles (4 March 1969). "The Racing Board". Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Directors of Semi-State Bodies. Dáil Éireann debates. Vol. 238. Oireachtas. cols 2093–94.
  36. ^ Colley, George (29 October 1970). Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Directorships of State Sponsored Bodies. Dáil Éireann debates. Vol. 249. Oireachtas. col 335.
  37. ^ "Mrs K. O'Beirne". Irish Independent. 27 May 1969. p. 12.

December 14, 2023
frank, beirne, this, article, about, fianna, fáil, politician, home, rule, politician, francis, beirne, john, francis, beirne, 1898, february, 1978, farmer, businessman, irish, republican, activist, fianna, fáil, politician, county, sligo, served, briefly, sea. This article is about the Fianna Fail politician For the Home Rule politician see Francis O Beirne John Francis O Beirne 1898 7 February 1978 1 2 3 was a farmer businessman Irish republican activist and Fianna Fail politician in County Sligo 2 He served briefly in Seanad Eireann 1 Contents 1 War of Independence 2 Anti treaty activity 3 Fianna Fail 4 References 5 NotesWar of Independence editO Beirne grew up in Collooney and was an early supporter of Sinn Fein He was arrested in February 1918 for unlawful assembly relating to commandeering of land for conacre 4 He refused to post bail and was sentenced to six months imprisonment 4 In February 1919 he was arrested for illegal fundraising in Collooney again refused to post bail and served three months 5 In June he organised an aeraiocht outdoor cultural festival in Collooney 6 The Irish War of Independence was escalating and O Beirne was Officer Commanding of the Collooney Battalion of the Irish Republican Army the Old IRA 7 After the local elections of May 1920 O Beirne was chairman of Sligo rural district council RDC leading the council to accept the authority of the First Dail 8 9 As RDC chairman he was ex officio a member of County Sligo county council which passed a similar resolution when it met in June 10 11 When Major Bryan Cooper refused to pay the IRA rates O Beirne took two bullocks in lieu 12 On 26 June he helped to spring Frank Carty from Sligo Gaol 13 In July he was an adjudicator at the Dail Courts which sat at Sooey Creamery and later at Sligo Courthouse 14 O Beirne sometimes used Major Heather s Knockadoo House near Coolaney as a safehouse 15 He led a raid on the British Army barracks in Carrick on Shannon 16 He did not participate in a raid on Collooney RIC barracks in March 1921 as he was sick 17 He was captured on 27 May 1921 18 and court martialled for involvement in the killing of RIC constables in Ballisodare but escaped from Sligo Gaol in June 1921 before sentence could be passed 11 19 Anti treaty activity editO Beirne was a close friend of Eamon de Valera and took the anti Treaty side in the Irish Civil War 2 His Collooney Battalion now part of the Irregulars killed five Irish Free State Army soldiers in an ambush and captured two armoured cars 20 Soon after he was taken prisoner along with forty men after Sean Mac Eoin launched a surprise attack on the town 21 20 In a 1925 by election two vacancies in the Leitrim Sligo constituency were to be filled O Beirne stood for Sinn Fein along with Samuel Holt Holt received slightly more first preferences than O Beirne and was elected with his transfers along with Martin Roddy of Cumann na nGaedheal 22 In his concession speech O Beirne said there were two things he held narrow views on one was pride in his Catholic Faith and the other was his pride in his Irish Nationality priests and bishops were not infallible as far as politics were concerned 23 The following November O Beirne was one of two men convicted in the Central Criminal Court for being concerned in the organisation of an illegal organisation The Irish Republican Army 24 The jury suggested the men should not be treated as criminals while the judge said their crime was treason punishable by death 24 In the event a 12 month sentence was imposed 25 Fianna Fail editO Beirne spent time in the United States reporting to the New York IRA co ordinator Connie Neenan in January 1927 26 and attended prominent Clan na Gael functions in 1930 32 27 Moss Twomey the IRA chief of staff had a low opinion of O Beirne 20 Officially he worked as a shipping agent which was a front for acting illegally as an agent for the Irish Sweepstakes 2 28 He returned to Ireland in the 1930s working as a farmer and businessman and was active in Fianna Fail s industrial policy promoted by Sean Lemass 2 He was elected to the Seanad in 1943 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel but was defeated in the 1944 Seanad election 1 having also failed to be elected to the Dail for Sligo in the general election 22 O Beirne was director of several companies 2 including Meat Exporters Sligo Ltd 29 and Flemings Fireclays 30 He was a founding director of the Sligo Industrial Development Corporation in 1953 31 In 1955 he bought from Major Clarence H Hillas Sea View a country house previously owned by the Atkinson family 32 near the Sligo Ballina road at Doonecoy Templeboy 2 33 He was a member of the Racing Board from 1965 to 1970 34 35 36 He was killed in a car crash on the N7 near Kill County Kildare aged 81 2 His wife Kathleen had died in 1969 2 37 References editFarry Michael 2005 1992 Sligo 1914 1921 a chronicle of conflict PDF Trim Killoran Press ISBN 0 9520135 0 9 Note the page numbers in the notes are to the 1992 edition those in the linked 2005 electronic edition are c 5 8 pages later Gavin Wilk 1 December 2014 Transatlantic defiance The militant Irish republican movement in America 1923 45 Manchester University Press ISBN 9781847799500 Retrieved 14 October 2016 Notes edit a b c Frank O Beirne Oireachtas Members Database Retrieved 21 June 2009 a b c d e f g h i Ex senator killed in car crash The Irish Times 8 February 1978 p 8 Retrieved 21 June 2009 Residents of a house 11 in Kilnamonagh Ballysadare East Sligo Census of Ireland 1901 National Archives Retrieved 8 March 2020 a b Farry 1992 p 118 Farry 1992 p 159 Farry 1992 p 169 Farry 1992 p 177 Farry 1992 pp 201 206 Irish Local Government Elections new provincial council chairmen The Irish Times 19 June 1920 p 2 Retrieved 22 June 2009 Farry 1992 p 246 a b Daring affair at Sligo Prisoners taken from the jail The Irish Times 30 June 1921 p 5 Retrieved 22 June 2009 Farry 1992 p 206 Farry 1992 p 226 Farry 1992 p 219 Farry 1992 p 268 Drumshanbo death of Mr M Mahon Leitrim Observer 10 April 1976 p 8 Farry 1992 p 281 Farry 1992 p 300 Farry 1992 p 304 a b c Gillogly James 2008 Decoding the IRA Mercier Press Ltd p 205 ISBN 9781856356046 Retrieved 16 October 2016 Farry Michael 2000 The aftermath of revolution Sligo 1921 23 Dublin University College Dublin Press p 78 ISBN 1 900621 38 X a b Frank O Beirne ElectionsIreland org Retrieved 22 June 2009 Rejoicing over the victory speeches at Carrick on Shannon Leitrim Observer 21 March 1925 p 3 a b Jury s suggestion in Sligo case Leitrim Observer 7 November 1925 p 4 Sent to jail Sentences under the Treason Act Leitrim Observer 14 November 1925 p 1 Wilk 2014 p 57 Wilk 2014 pp 69 71 87 Wilk 2014 p 117 Tendency to shirk work criticised Opening of meat factory The Irish Times 11 December 1953 p 7 Retrieved 21 June 2009 Personal Ads As a mark of respect to out late director Frank O Beirne The Irish Times 9 February 1978 p 24 Retrieved 22 June 2009 subscription required Chamber History Official website Sligo Chamber of Commerce Archived from the original on 27 April 2009 Retrieved 22 June 2009 Hanson Helen May 1996 The Atkinson family from County Sligo Ireland p 106 OCLC 34469371 House Seaview or Doonecoy Landed Estates Database NUI Galway 3 September 2008 Retrieved 22 June 2009 Racing Board members The Irish Times 23 June 1965 p 2 Retrieved 21 June 2009 Haughey Charles 4 March 1969 The Racing Board Ceisteanna Questions Oral Answers Directors of Semi State Bodies Dail Eireann debates Vol 238 Oireachtas cols 2093 94 Colley George 29 October 1970 Ceisteanna Questions Oral Answers Directorships of State Sponsored Bodies Dail Eireann debates Vol 249 Oireachtas col 335 Mrs K O Beirne Irish Independent 27 May 1969 p 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank O 27Beirne amp oldid 1174631482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.