Richard Mulcahy

General Richard James Mulcahy (10 May 1886 – 16 December 1971) was an Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister. He fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence. Image File history File links General Richard Mulcahy, TD in 1923. ... Image File history File links General Richard Mulcahy, TD in 1923. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The Republic of Ireland is a sovereign, independent state. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in Ireland. ... Easter Proclamation, read by Pádraig Pearse outside the GPO at the start of the Easter Rising, 1916. ... The West Cork Flying Column during the War of Independence. ... Combatants Irish Republican Army United Kingdom Strength 15,000 British Army c. ...

Early life and 1916 rising

Richard (Dick) Mulcahy was born in Manor Street, Waterford in 1886. He was educated at Mount Sion Christian Brothers School and later in Thurles, County Tipperary, where his father was the postmaster. One of his grandmothers was a Quaker who was disowned by her wealthy family for marrying a Roman Catholic. He joined the Post Office (engineering dept) in 1902 and worked in Thurles, Bantry, and Dublin. Mulcahy joined the Irish Volunteers soon after their formation in 1913 and was also a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Gaelic League. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a world-wide community of religious brothers of the Catholic church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. ... Historic print depicting market day in Thurles (August 1848). ... County Tipperary (Tiobraid Árann in Irish) is a traditional county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster. ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Historic print depicting market day in Thurles (August 1848). ... Bantry (Beanntraí in Irish) is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland, located on the N71 at the head of Bantry Bay. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Irish Volunteers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) played an important role in the history of Ireland. ... Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) is an organization for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland. ...

He was second-in-command to the late Thomas Ashe (who would later die on hunger strike) in an encounter with the armed Royal Irish Constabulary at Ashbourne, County Meath during the Easter Rising in 1916. Arrested after the rising he was interned at Knutsford and at theFrongoch in Wales until his release in November 1916. Thomas Samuel Ashe was a U.S. Congressman and judge from North Carolina. ... A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance in which participants fast as an act of political protest or to achieve a goal such as a policy change. ... The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was one of Irelands two police forces in the early twentieth century, alongside the Dublin Metropolitan Police. ... Ashbourne is the name of more than one place: Ashbourne, Derbyshire in England Ashbourne, County Meath in Ireland This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... County Meath (Contae na Mí in Irish) is the fastest growing county in the Republic of Ireland, often informally called The Royal County. ... Easter Proclamation, read by Pádraig Pearse outside the GPO at the start of the Easter Rising, 1916. ... Arms of Knutsford Town Council Map sources for Knutsford at grid reference SJ753782 Knutsford is a town in the county of Cheshire in the North West of England, south of Manchester, and west of Wilmslow. ... Frongoch internment camp at Frongoch in Merionethshire in Wales was a makeshift place of imprisonment during the First World War. ...

War of Independence and Civil War

Upon his release he immediately rejoined the republican movement and became deputy chief of staff of the Irish Volunteers, working closely with Michael Collins. Elected to the First Dáil in the 1918 general election, he was named Minister for Defence in the new, illegal government. In March 1919 he became IRA chief of staff, a position he held until January 1922. Irish Volunteers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Michael John Collins (Irish name Micheál Eoin Ó Coileáin; 16 October 1890 – 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as Director of Intelligence for the IRA, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations... The First Dáil (Irish: An Chéad Dáil) was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919–1921. ... The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. ... The following is the list of those who have served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army in the various incarnations of organisations bearing that name. ...

He and Michael Collins were largely responsible for directing the military campaign against the British during the War of Independence. During this period of upheaval in 1919 he married Josephine Ryan, sister of Dr. James Ryan and sister of Philomena ("Phyllis") Ryan, wife of Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, two men who would later be members of Fianna Fáil governments. Mulcahy supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and became commander of the military forces of the Provisional Government during the subsequent Civil War. Combatants Irish Republican Army United Kingdom Strength 15,000 British Army c. ... Dr. James Ryan (December 6, 1891 - September 25, 1970), was a senior Irish politician. ... Sean Thomas OKelly (Irish name: Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh, pronounced ) (August 25, 1882 - November 23, 1966) was the second President of Ireland (1945-1959). ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Ireland, but traditionally translated as Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called the Articles of association between Ireland and the British Empire, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the (extra-judicial) Irish Republic which concluded the Anglo-Irish War. ... The Irish Army is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces of the Republic of Ireland. ... Combatants Irish Republican Army (1922-1969) Irish Army of the Irish Free State Commanders Liam Lynch Michael Collins Richard Mulcahy Strength c. ...

He earned notoriety amongst anti-treaty supporters through his order that captured "rebel" soldiers were liable for execution. A total of 77 anti-Treaty prisoners were executed by Mulcahy's Provisional Government. Mulcahy served as Defence Minister in the new Free State government from 1923 until 1924, but was forced to resign after criticism by the Executive Council over his handling of the so-called Army Mutiny — when Irish Army officers almost revolted after Mulcahy demobilised many of them after the end of the Civil War. He re-entered the cabinet as Minister for Local Government in 1927. The Minister for Defence is in charge of the Department of Defence in the Republic of Ireland. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) (1922–1937) was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties that were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and... Government Buildings in Dublin. ... The Irish Army is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces of the Republic of Ireland. ...

Post independence politician

During his period on the backbenches of Dáil Éireann his electoral record fluctuated. He was elected as Teachta Dála for Dublin North West in the 1922 general election. The following year, in the 1923 election he moved constituency to Dublin North, where he was re-elected in four further elections: June 1927, September 1927, 1932 and 1933. The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... A Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... Dublin North West is a parliamentary constituency in the Republic of Ireland. ... A general election took place in southern Ireland in 16 June 1922 under the provisions of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty to elect a constituent assembly paving the way for the establishment of the Irish Free State. ... The Irish general election of 1923 was held on August 27, 1923. ... Dublin North is a parliamentary constituency in the Republic of Ireland, located in the northern area of County Dublin. ... See also: Government of the 5th Dáil Categories: Elections in Ireland | 1927 ... The Irish general election of September 1927 was held on September 15, 1927. ... The Irish general election of 1932 was held on February 16, 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the 6th Dáil on January 29. ... The Irish general election of 1933 was held on January 24, 1933. ...

Mulcahy was defeated in the 1937 general election, but secured election to the Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the parliament, on the Adminstrative Panel. The 2nd Seanad sat for less than two months, and he was elected to the 10th Dáil for Dublin North East in the 1938 election. Defeated again in the election of 1943, he secured election to the 4th Seanad, on the Labour Panel. See also: Government of the 9th Dáil Categories: Elections in Ireland | 1937 ... The Seanad Chamber The Seanad meets in the former picture gallery in Leinster House. ... The Seanad Chamber. ... This is a list of the 138 members who were elected to the 10th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. ... Dublin North East is a parliamentary constituency in the Republic of Ireland. ... See also: Government of the 10th Dáil Categories: Elections in Ireland | 1938 ... See also: Government of the 11th Dáil Categories: Elections in Ireland | 1943 ... The Seanad Chamber. ...

After the resignation of W.T. Cosgrave in 1944 Mulcahy became leader of Fine Gael while still a member of the Seanad. Thomas F. O'Higgins was parliamentary leader of the party in the Dáil at the time. Mulcahy was returned again to the 12th Dáil as TD for Tipperary at the 1944 general election. William Thomas Cosgrave, (June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in Ireland. ... Dr. Thomas F. OHiggins was a senior Irish politician. ... This is a list of the 138 members who were elected to the 12th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. ... Tipperary (Irish: Tiobraid Árann) is a town in the south-west of County Tipperary, Ireland. ... The Irish general election of 1944 was held on May 30, 1944, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on May 9. ...

Following the 1948 general election the First Inter-Party Government in the history of the Irish state came to power. Fine Gael, the Labour Parties and the breakawy National Labour Party, Clann na Poblachta and Clann na Talmhan joined forces to oust Fianna Fáil from power. Since Fine Gael was the largest party, they would provide the candidate for Taoiseach, but Mulcahy was seen as an unacceptable candidate to the Republican leader of Clann na Poblachta, Seán MacBride (son of John MacBride and Maud Gonne). The Irish general election of 1948 was held on February 4, 1948. ... The 13th Dáil was elected on February 4, 1957 and first met on February 18 when the 5th Government of Ireland was appointed. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in Ireland. ... Logo of the Irish Labour Party The Irish Labour Party (Irish: Páirti an Lucht Oibre) is the third largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... The National Labour Party was an Irish political party which was founded in 1944 as a split-off from the Irish Labour Party. ... Clann na Poblachta (literally meaning Family of the Republic) was an Irish republican political party founded by former IRA Chief of Staff Sean MacBride in 1946. ... Clann na Talmhan (literally meaning Party of the Land) was an Irish political party. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Ireland, but traditionally translated as Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in Ireland. ... The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... Irish Republicanism is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Clann na Poblachta (literally meaning Family of the Republic) was an Irish republican political party founded by former IRA Chief of Staff Sean MacBride in 1946. ... Seán MacBride Seán MacBride (January 26, 1904 – January 15, 1988) was a senior Irish politician, barrister, revolutionary & statesman. ... Major John MacBride (7 May 1865 – 5 May 1916) was an Irish republican who was executed for his leading role in the Easter Rising of 1916. ... Maud Gonne MacBride (21 December 1866 – 27 April 1953) was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. ...

Instead Mulcahy unselfishly stepped aside in favour of John A. Costello becoming Taoiseach. Mulcahy went on to serve as Minister for Education from 1948 until 1951. From then on a dual leadership role existed between Mulcahy and Costello. Another coalition government came to power at the 1954 election, with Mulcahy once again stepping aside to become Minister for Education in the Second Inter-Party Government. The government fell in 1957, but Mulcahy remained as Fine Gael leader until October 1959. In October 1960 he told his Tipperary constituents that he did not intend to contest the next election. John Aloysius Costello (20 June 1891 – 5 January 1976), a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney-General of Ireland from 1926-1932 and Taoiseach from 1948-1951 and 1954-1957. ... The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... The Minister for Education & Science is the chief person at the Department of Education & Science is engaged in a wide range of activities covering pllicy planning, quality assurance and providing a broad range of services for education in the Republic of Ireland. ... See also: Government of the 15th Dáil Categories: Elections in Ireland | 1954 ... The Minister for Education & Science is the chief person at the Department of Education & Science is engaged in a wide range of activities covering pllicy planning, quality assurance and providing a broad range of services for education in the Republic of Ireland. ... The 15th Dáil was elected on May 18, 1954 and first met on June 2 when the 7th Government of Ireland was appointed. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in Ireland. ... The Irish general election of 1961 was held on October 4, 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on September 8. ...

Richard Mulcahy died in Dublin on 16 December 1971, at the age of 85 from natural causes. His son, also named Richard Mulcahy, was for many years a prominent cardiologist in Dublin. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. ...

Political career

Leaders of Fine Gael
	General Eoin O'Duffy (1933-1934) | William T. Cosgrave (1934-1944) | General Richard Mulcahy (1944-1959) | James Dillon (1959-1965) | Liam Cosgrave (1965-1977)  | Garret FitzGerald (1977-1987)  | Alan Dukes (1987-1990)  | John Bruton (1990-2001)  | Michael Noonan (2001-2002)  | Enda Kenny (2002-)