Richard Mulcahy

Richard Mulcahy (1886-1971) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence. He was also leader of Fine Gael and a Cabinet Minister.

Related Topics:
1886 - 1971 - Irish - Fine Gael - 1916 - Easter Rising - Irish Republican Army - War of Independence

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Born in Manor Street, Waterford, Richard Mulcahy 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 from her wealthy family for marrying a Roman Catholic. He joined the Post Office as an engineer in 1902 and worked in Thurles, Bantry, and the capital, Dublin. Mulcahy joined the Irish Volunteers soon after their formation in 1913 and he was also a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Gaelic League. 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 Frongoch until his release in November 1916.

Related Topics:
Waterford - Christian Brothers - Thurles - County Tipperary - Quaker - Roman Catholic - 1902 - Bantry - Dublin - Irish Volunteers - 1913 - Irish Republican Brotherhood - Gaelic League - Thomas Ashe - Hunger strike - Royal Irish Constabulary - Ashbourne - County Meath - Easter Rising - 1916 - Knutsford

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Upon his release he immediately rejoined the movement and became deputy chief of staff of the Volunteers, working closely with Michael Collins. Elected to the First Dáil in 1918, he was named Minister of Defence. In March 1919 he became IRA chief of staff, a position he held until January 1922.

Related Topics:
Michael Collins - First Dáil - 1918 - IRA chief of staff - January - 1922

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He and Michael Collins were largely responsible for directing the military campaign against the British during the War of Independence. In 1919 he married Josephine Ryan, sister of Dr. James Ryan and sister of Philomena ("Phyllis") Ryan, wife of Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and became commander of the military forces of the Provisional Government during the subsequent Civil War. Mulcahy served as Defence Minister from 1923-1924, but was forced to resign after criticism by the Executive Council over his handling of the Army Mutiny.

Related Topics:
British - War of Independence - Dr. James Ryan - Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh - Anglo-Irish Treaty - 1921 - Military forces - Civil War - Defence Minister - Executive Council - Army Mutiny

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His electoral record fluctuated during his career. He was elected as TD for Dublin North-West in 1922. The following year he moved constituency to Dublin City North. Mulcahy was defeated in the 1937 General Election, but was re-elected for Dublin North-East in 1938. Defeated again in the election of 1943, he secured election to Seanad Éireann. Mulcahy was returned to Dáil Éireann for Tipperary in 1944.

Related Topics:
TD - Dublin - 1922 - 1937 General Election - 1938 - 1943 - Seanad Éireann - Dáil Éireann - Tipperary - 1944

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After the resignation of W.T. Cosgrave in June 1944 Mulcahy became leader of Fine Gael. In 1948 the first Inter-Party Government in the history of the Irish state came to power. Fine Gael, Labour, 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, however, Mulcahy was seen as an unacceptable candidate to the Republican leader of Clann na Poblachta, Seán MacBride, the son of John MacBride and Maud Gonne.

Related Topics:
W.T. Cosgrave - 1944 - Fine Gael - 1948 - Labour - Clann na Poblachta - Clann na Talmhan - Fianna Fáil - Taoiseach - Republican - Seán MacBride - John MacBride - Maud Gonne

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Instead Mulcahy unselfishly stepped aside in favour of John A. Costello. Mulcahy went on to serve as Minister for Education from 1948 until 1951 and again from 1954 until 1957. He resigned the leadership of Fine Gael in October 1959 and in October 1960 told his Tipperary constituents that he did not intend to contest the next election.

Related Topics:
John A. Costello - 1959 - 1960

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His son, also named Richard Mulcahy, was a prominent heart surgeon for many years.

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Richard Mulcahy died in Dublin, Ireland on December 16, 1971, at the age of 85 from natural causes.

Related Topics:
Dublin, Ireland - December 16 - 1971

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