British Army military intelligence file for Joseph McGrath
McGrath was born in Dublin in 1888. By 1916 he was working with his brother George at Craig Gardiner & Co., a firm of accountants in Dawson Street, Dublin. He worked with Michael Collins, a part-time fellow clerk and the two struck up a friendship. In his spare time McGrath worked as secretary for the Volunteer Dependents' Fund.[2]
In October 1921 McGrath travelled with the Irish Treaty delegation to London as one of Michael Collins' personal staff. When the Provisional Government of Ireland was set up in January 1922, McGrath was appointed as Minister for Labour. In the Irish Civil War of 1922–1923, he took the pro-treaty side and was made Director of Intelligence, replacing Liam Tobin. In a strongly worded letter, written in red ink, McGrath warned Collins not to take his last, ill-fated trip to Cork.[2]
He was later put in charge of the police Intelligence service of the new Irish Free State, the Criminal Investigation Department or CID. It was modelled on the London Metropolitan Police department of the same name, but was accused of the torture and killing of a number of republican (anti-treaty) prisoners during the civil war. It was disbanded at the war's end; the official reason given was that it was unnecessary for a police force in peacetime. McGrath went on to serve as Minister for Labour in the Second Dáil and the Provisional Government of Ireland. He also served in the 1st and 2nd Executive Councils holding the Industry and Commerce portfolio.
In September 1922 McGrath used strikebreakers to oppose a strike by Trade Unionists in the Post Office service, despite having threatened to resign in the previous March of the same year when the government threatened to use British strikebreakers.[6]
McGrath resigned from office in April 1924 because of dissatisfaction with the government's attitude to the Army Mutiny officers and as he said himself, "government by a clique and by the officialdom of the old regime". By this he meant that former IRA fighters were being overlooked and that the Republican goals on all Ireland had been sidelined.[7] McGrath and eight other TDs who had resigned from Cumann na nGaedheal then resigned their seats in the Dáil and formed a new political party, the National Party. However, the new party did not contest the subsequent by-elections for their old seats. Instead, Cumann na nGaedheal won seven of the seats and Sinn Féin won the other two.
Accusation of involvement in the death of Noel Lemassedit
In 1927, McGrath took a libel case against the publishers of The Real Ireland by poet Cyril Bretherton, a book that claimed McGrath was responsible for the abduction and murder of Noel Lemass (the brother of Seán Lemass) in June 1923 during the civil war, as well as a subsequent coverup. McGrath won the court case. During the 1930s, McGrath and Seán Lemass reconciled and regularly played poker together.[6]
Business interestsedit
Following his political career, he went on to become involved in the building trade. In 1925 he became labour adviser to Siemens-Schuckert, German contractors for the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric scheme near Limerick. McGrath founded the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake in 1930, and the success of its sweepstakes made him an extremely wealthy man. He had other extensive and successful business interests always investing in Ireland and became Ireland's best-known racehorse owner and breeder, winning The Derby with Arctic Prince in 1951.[6]
Personal lifeedit
McGrath died at his home, Cabinteely House in Dublin, on 26 March 1966.[6] Cabinteely House, was donated to the state in 1986, and the land developed as a public park. Joseph's son Patrick W. McGrath inherited many of his father's business interests, and also served as Fine Gael Senator from 1973 to 1977.
Referencesedit
^"Joseph McGrath". Oireachtas Members Database. from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
^ abJames Alexander Mackay, Michael Collins: a life, Mainstream Publishing, 1996
^"Joseph McGrath". ElectionsIreland.org. from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
^Coleman, Marie (2009). The Irish Sweep: a History of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake, 1930–87. Dublin: University College Dublin Press. ISBN978-1-906359-40-9.
^"John Riordan, Waterford (Military Archives of Ireland, BMH, WS 1355)" (PDF). .bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie. (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
joseph, mcgrath, irish, politician, joseph, mcgrath, august, 1888, march, 1966, irish, politician, businessman, sinn, féin, later, cumann, ngaedheal, teachta, dála, various, constituencies, dublin, james, 1918, 1921, dublin, north, west, 1921, 1923, mayo, nort. Joseph McGrath 12 August 1888 26 March 1966 was an Irish politician and businessman 1 He was a Sinn Fein and later a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dala TD for various constituencies Dublin St James s 1918 1921 Dublin North West 1921 1923 and Mayo North 1923 1924 and developed widespread business interests Joseph McGrathMcGrath in 1922Minister for LabourIn office 11 January 9 September 1922Preceded byConstance MarkieviczSucceeded byPatrick HoganMinister for Industry and CommerceIn office 30 August 1922 7 March 1924Preceded byErnest BlytheSucceeded byPatrick McGilliganTeachta DalaIn office August 1923 April 1924ConstituencyMayo NorthIn office May 1921 August 1923ConstituencyDublin North WestIn office December 1918 May 1921ConstituencyDublin St James sPersonal detailsBorn 1888 08 12 12 August 1888Dublin IrelandDied26 March 1966 1966 03 26 aged 77 Ballsbridge Dublin IrelandPolitical partyCumann na nGaedhealOther politicalaffiliationsSinn FeinNational Party 1924 SpouseAileen DownesChildren6 including Patrick W McGrathMilitary serviceBranch serviceIrish Republican BrotherhoodIrish Republican ArmyNational ArmyRankDirector of IntelligenceBattles warsEaster RisingIrish War of IndependenceIrish Civil War Contents 1 Political career 1 1 Army Mutiny Resignation National Party 1 2 Accusation of involvement in the death of Noel Lemass 2 Business interests 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksPolitical career edit nbsp British Army military intelligence file for Joseph McGrathMcGrath was born in Dublin in 1888 By 1916 he was working with his brother George at Craig Gardiner amp Co a firm of accountants in Dawson Street Dublin He worked with Michael Collins a part time fellow clerk and the two struck up a friendship In his spare time McGrath worked as secretary for the Volunteer Dependents Fund 2 He soon joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood He fought in Marrowbone Lane in the 1916 Easter Rising McGrath was arrested after the rising and jailed in Wormwood Scrubs and Brixton prisons in England In the 1918 general election he was elected as Sinn Fein TD for the Dublin St James s constituency later sitting in the First Dail 3 He was also a member of the Irish Republican Army the guerrilla army of the Irish Republic and successfully organised many bank robberies during the Irish war of Independence 1919 1921 where a small percentage of the proceeds was retained as a reward by him and his fellow soldiers 4 During this time he was interred briefly at Ballykinlar Internment Camp He escaped by dressing in army uniform and walking out of the gate with soldiers going on leave He was eventually recaptured and spent time in jail in Belfast 5 In October 1921 McGrath travelled with the Irish Treaty delegation to London as one of Michael Collins personal staff When the Provisional Government of Ireland was set up in January 1922 McGrath was appointed as Minister for Labour In the Irish Civil War of 1922 1923 he took the pro treaty side and was made Director of Intelligence replacing Liam Tobin In a strongly worded letter written in red ink McGrath warned Collins not to take his last ill fated trip to Cork 2 He was later put in charge of the police Intelligence service of the new Irish Free State the Criminal Investigation Department or CID It was modelled on the London Metropolitan Police department of the same name but was accused of the torture and killing of a number of republican anti treaty prisoners during the civil war It was disbanded at the war s end the official reason given was that it was unnecessary for a police force in peacetime McGrath went on to serve as Minister for Labour in the Second Dail and the Provisional Government of Ireland He also served in the 1st and 2nd Executive Councils holding the Industry and Commerce portfolio In September 1922 McGrath used strikebreakers to oppose a strike by Trade Unionists in the Post Office service despite having threatened to resign in the previous March of the same year when the government threatened to use British strikebreakers 6 In December 1922 McGrath was a reluctant supporter of the government s decision to execute four high profile IRA prisoners Liam Mellows Dick Barrett Rory O Connor and Joe McKelvey 6 Army Mutiny Resignation National Party edit Main article Irish Army Mutiny McGrath resigned from office in April 1924 because of dissatisfaction with the government s attitude to the Army Mutiny officers and as he said himself government by a clique and by the officialdom of the old regime By this he meant that former IRA fighters were being overlooked and that the Republican goals on all Ireland had been sidelined 7 McGrath and eight other TDs who had resigned from Cumann na nGaedheal then resigned their seats in the Dail and formed a new political party the National Party However the new party did not contest the subsequent by elections for their old seats Instead Cumann na nGaedheal won seven of the seats and Sinn Fein won the other two Accusation of involvement in the death of Noel Lemass edit In 1927 McGrath took a libel case against the publishers of The Real Ireland by poet Cyril Bretherton a book that claimed McGrath was responsible for the abduction and murder of Noel Lemass the brother of Sean Lemass in June 1923 during the civil war as well as a subsequent coverup McGrath won the court case During the 1930s McGrath and Sean Lemass reconciled and regularly played poker together 6 Business interests editFollowing his political career he went on to become involved in the building trade In 1925 he became labour adviser to Siemens Schuckert German contractors for the Ardnacrusha hydro electric scheme near Limerick McGrath founded the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake in 1930 and the success of its sweepstakes made him an extremely wealthy man He had other extensive and successful business interests always investing in Ireland and became Ireland s best known racehorse owner and breeder winning The Derby with Arctic Prince in 1951 6 Personal life editMcGrath died at his home Cabinteely House in Dublin on 26 March 1966 6 Cabinteely House was donated to the state in 1986 and the land developed as a public park Joseph s son Patrick W McGrath inherited many of his father s business interests and also served as Fine Gael Senator from 1973 to 1977 References edit Joseph McGrath Oireachtas Members Database Archived from the original on 8 November 2018 Retrieved 12 February 2012 a b James Alexander Mackay Michael Collins a life Mainstream Publishing 1996 Joseph McGrath ElectionsIreland org Archived from the original on 19 October 2011 Retrieved 12 February 2012 Coleman Marie 2009 The Irish Sweep a History of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake 1930 87 Dublin University College Dublin Press ISBN 978 1 906359 40 9 John Riordan Waterford Military Archives of Ireland BMH WS 1355 PDF bureauofmilitaryhistory ie Archived PDF from the original on 11 September 2014 Retrieved 11 September 2014 a b c d e Coleman Marie McGrath Joseph Joe Dictionary of Irish Biography Archived from the original on 2 June 2021 Dail Eireann Volume 6 Dail Debates 3 April 1924 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 13 April 2012 External links edit McGrath Sir Joseph Thom s Irish Who s Who Dublin Alexander Thom and Son Ltd 1923 p 152 via Wikisource Parliament of the United KingdomNew constituency Member of Parliament for Dublin St James s1918 1922 Constituency abolishedOireachtasNew constituency Teachta Dala for Dublin St James s1918 1921 Constituency abolishedPolitical officesPreceded byConstance Markievicz Minister for Labour1922 Succeeded byPatrick HoganPreceded byErnest Blythe Minister for Industry and Commerce1922 1924 Succeeded byPatrick McGilligan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph McGrath Irish politician amp oldid 1179282882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
