MAYO-L Archives

Archiver > MAYO > 2001-04 > 0987887188


From: "conaught" <>
Subject: [MAYO] Easter Week Series #23
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 14:06:28 -0700


Richard Mulcahy, (1886-1971), Leader of Fine Gael, served as Minister of
Defence. These loyal troops became the Free State Army, while the
anti-Treaty forces became known as the Irregulars. Born in Waterford, his
father was a postmaster and he worked in the postal service in Thurles,
Bantry, and Dublin. After the formation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913, he
became second-in-command to Thomas Ashe in the Easter Rising of 1916. He was
interned at Frongoch until the general amnesty. He rejoined the movement as
the chief of staff of the Republican Army. In 1918, he was elected Member of
Parliament for Clontarf division. The following year, he married Josphine
Ryan, sister of Dr. James Ryan and Phyllis Ryan, wife of Sean O'Kelly.
A supporter of the Treaty of 1921, he was also General Officer Commanding
the Provisional Government during the Civil War. He replaced Cathal Brugha
as Minister of Defense when Brugha voted against the Treaty.
After William T. Cosgrave resigned leadership of Fine Gael in June 1944 and
served until October 1959. He spent the last five years of his life
arranging his papers that he presented to University College, Dublin.
He died 16 December 1971.

© 2001
Ellen Naliboff

All rights reserved

Selected references:

Boylan, Henry, A Dictionary of Irish Biography, Third Edition, Gill &
Macmillan, Dublin, 1998.

Connolly, S.J., editor, The Oxford Companion to Irish History, Oxford
University Press, 1998.

Foster, R.F., Modern Ireland, 1600-1972, Penguin Books, 1988.

Fry, Peter and Fiona Somerset, A History of Ireland, Barnes & Noble, New
York, 1988

Llywelyn, Morgan, 1921, A Tom Doherty Associates Book, New York, 2001.
















This thread: