Eamon Bulfin
Encyclopedia
Eamon Bulfin was an Argentine-born Irish republican. He was the son of writer William Bulfin
(1864–1910) of Birr
, King's County (now known as Birr, County Offaly
). William Bulfin emigrated to Argentina at the age of 20 and was a writer and journalist who became the editor/proprietor of The Southern Cross.
Eamon Bulfin was a pupil at Patrick Pearse
's school, St. Enda's
(Scoil Éanna), and subsequently studied at University College, Dublin where he became captain of the Irish Volunteer Company. As one of Pearse's favorite pupils, he assisted with teaching duties after he graduated. He was recruited to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1913 and along with some fellow St Enda's students created home-made bombs in the school's basement in preparation for the Easter Rising.
In the Easter Rising
of 1916 in Dublin, he raised one of the Irish flags over the General Post Office
(GPO). Following the failure of the insurrection, he was condemned to death but, because of his Argentinian nationality, was instead deported to Buenos Aires
. Prior to his deportation, he was interned in Frongoch prison in Wales along with the other Irish rebels.
He was appointed by the President of the new Republic, Éamon de Valera
, as Irish Representative to Argentina. De Valera described Bulfin's job as to “inaugurate direct trade between Ireland and the Argentine Republic… to co-ordinate Irish opinion in the Argentine, and to bring it into the Irish demand for a republic.” While carrying out these duties, Bulfin maintained a close line of communication with Michael Collins back in Ireland.
Bulfin was one of several representatives abroad appointed for that purpose, and recognition of the importance of their work led to the establishment in February 1921 of a separate Department of Foreign Affairs
.
In the 1920 County Council elections, Eamon Bulfin was nominated in his absence for a seat on King’s County Council. He was elected and, even though he was in Argentina, he was immediately appointed chairman of the council. One of the first things the new council did was to agree that the county’s name be changed from King's County to its ancient name of Offaly.
On the formation of the Irish Free State
, Bulfin returned to Ireland, becoming active in local politics.
His sister, Catalina (1901–1976), was secretary to Austin Stack
. Catalina Bulfin married the Nobel Prize-winner Seán MacBride
, the son of Major John MacBride
and Maud Gonne
.
Bulfin Road in Inchicore
, Dublin 8 is named after him.
William Bulfin
William Bulfin was the fourth son in a family of nine boys and one girl, the children of William Bulfin, of Derrinlough, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland, and Ellen Grogan of Croghan, County Offaly....
(1864–1910) of Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, King's County (now known as Birr, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
). William Bulfin emigrated to Argentina at the age of 20 and was a writer and journalist who became the editor/proprietor of The Southern Cross.
Eamon Bulfin was a pupil at Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
's school, St. Enda's
St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School, or Scoil Éanna, was a Secondary school for boys set up by Irish nationalist Patrick Pearse in 1908.-Background:Pearse, generally known as a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916, had long been critical of the educational system in Ireland, which he believed taught Irish children to...
(Scoil Éanna), and subsequently studied at University College, Dublin where he became captain of the Irish Volunteer Company. As one of Pearse's favorite pupils, he assisted with teaching duties after he graduated. He was recruited to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1913 and along with some fellow St Enda's students created home-made bombs in the school's basement in preparation for the Easter Rising.
In the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
of 1916 in Dublin, he raised one of the Irish flags over the General Post Office
General Post Office (Dublin)
The General Post Office ' in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post, and Dublin's principal post office...
(GPO). Following the failure of the insurrection, he was condemned to death but, because of his Argentinian nationality, was instead deported to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. Prior to his deportation, he was interned in Frongoch prison in Wales along with the other Irish rebels.
He was appointed by the President of the new Republic, Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
, as Irish Representative to Argentina. De Valera described Bulfin's job as to “inaugurate direct trade between Ireland and the Argentine Republic… to co-ordinate Irish opinion in the Argentine, and to bring it into the Irish demand for a republic.” While carrying out these duties, Bulfin maintained a close line of communication with Michael Collins back in Ireland.
Bulfin was one of several representatives abroad appointed for that purpose, and recognition of the importance of their work led to the establishment in February 1921 of a separate Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland in the European Union and the wider world...
.
In the 1920 County Council elections, Eamon Bulfin was nominated in his absence for a seat on King’s County Council. He was elected and, even though he was in Argentina, he was immediately appointed chairman of the council. One of the first things the new council did was to agree that the county’s name be changed from King's County to its ancient name of Offaly.
On the formation of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, Bulfin returned to Ireland, becoming active in local politics.
His sister, Catalina (1901–1976), was secretary to Austin Stack
Austin Stack
Austin Stack was an Irish revolutionary and politician.-Early life:Stack was born in Ballymullen, Tralee, County Kerry. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Tralee. At the age of fourteen he left school and became a clerk in a solicitor's office. A gifted Gaelic footballer, he...
. Catalina Bulfin married the Nobel Prize-winner Seán MacBride
Seán MacBride
Seán MacBride was an Irish government minister and prominent international politician as well as a Chief of Staff of the IRA....
, the son of Major John MacBride
John MacBride
Major John MacBride was an Irish republican executed for participation in the 1916 Easter Rising.-Early life:...
and Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne MacBride was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. Of Anglo-Irish stock and birth, she was won over to Irish nationalism by the plight of evicted people in the Land Wars...
.
Bulfin Road in Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
, Dublin 8 is named after him.
External links
- An Irish Argentine in the Easter Rising (The Irish Post)
- Murray, Edmundo. Bulfin, Eamon (1892-1968), Irish republican and diplomatist in "Irish Migration Studies in Latin America", November-December 2005