Frank Gallagher (author)
Encyclopedia
Frank B. Gallagher (1893 – 1962) was an Irish
author
and Volunteer
.
native, initially London correspondent of William O'Brien
's Cork Free Press
, subsequently its final editor, though himself a separatist, personally admired O'Brien.
The paper suffered closure in 1916 soon after the appointment of Lord Decies
as Chief Press Censor for Ireland. Decies warned the press to be careful about what they published. Such warnings had little effect when dealing with such papers as the Cork Free Press. It was suppressed after Gallagher accused the British authorities of lying about the conditions and situation of republican prisoners in the Frongoch internment camp
.
Gallagher worked alongside Erskine Childers
on the Republican publicity staff and fought alongside Éamon de Valera
during the Irish War of Independence
. Gallagher and Robert Brennan
were the significant contributors to the Irish Bulletin
which was produced at this time. He would write several short stories for de Valera under various pseudonyms. Gallagher served long stints in prison due to his IRA
involvement and went on many hunger strikes (the shortest lasting three days, the longest 41).
In December 1931 Gallagher was prosecuted by a Irish Free State Military tribunal for Seditious libel
for publishing articles alleging Gardaí had mistreated the opponents (i.e. Anti-Treaty republicans) of the Irish Free State government, this was facilitated by Amendment No. 17 of Constitution of the Irish Free State
, he was convicted and fined £50.
Prior to the establishment of Fianna Fáil, Gallagher in the 1920's contributed to An Phoblacht
the weekly newspaper of the republican movement. He was subsequently de Valera's director of publicity and editor the The Irish Press
in 1931 and was appointed deputy director of Radio Éireann in 1936. He would later serve as the director of the Government Information Bureau from 1939–48 and again through 1951-54. Gallagher has composed numerous short stories, biographies and historical pieces.
At the time of his death he was working on a biography of de Valera. Portions of it were published posthumously as The Anglo-Irish Treaty (1965). Gallagher's implacable hostility to the Treaty inevitably colours his analysis; but despite his belief that de Valera was entirely in the right in the ensuing conflict, he makes impressive efforts to be fair to those who negotiated the Treaty, especially Arthur Griffith
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and Volunteer
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
.
Biography
A CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
native, initially London correspondent of William O'Brien
William O'Brien
William O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
's Cork Free Press
Cork Free Press
The Cork Free Press was a nationalist newspaper in Ireland, which circulated primarily in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, and was the newspaper of the dissident All-for-Ireland League party...
, subsequently its final editor, though himself a separatist, personally admired O'Brien.
The paper suffered closure in 1916 soon after the appointment of Lord Decies
John Beresford, 5th Baron Decies
John Graham Hope de la Poer Beresford, 5th Baron Decies PC , styled The Honourable John Beresford until 1910, was an Anglo-Irish army officer and civil servant.-Background and education:...
as Chief Press Censor for Ireland. Decies warned the press to be careful about what they published. Such warnings had little effect when dealing with such papers as the Cork Free Press. It was suppressed after Gallagher accused the British authorities of lying about the conditions and situation of republican prisoners in the Frongoch internment camp
Frongoch internment camp
Frongoch internment camp at Frongoch in Merionethshire, Wales was a makeshift place of imprisonment during the First World War. Until 1916 it housed German prisoners of war in an abandoned distillery and crude huts, but in the wake of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, Ireland, the German prisoners...
.
Gallagher worked alongside Erskine Childers
Robert Erskine Childers
Robert Erskine Childers DSC , universally known as Erskine Childers, was the author of the influential novel Riddle of the Sands and an Irish nationalist who smuggled guns to Ireland in his sailing yacht Asgard. He was executed by the authorities of the nascent Irish Free State during the Irish...
on the Republican publicity staff and fought alongside 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...
during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. Gallagher and Robert Brennan
Robert Brennan (journalist)
Robert Brennan was an Irish writer, diplomat and a founder of The Irish Press newspaper. He took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the Irish Free State's first minister to the United States.-Life:...
were the significant contributors to the Irish Bulletin
Irish Bulletin
The Irish Bulletin was the official gazette of the government of the Irish Republic. It was produced by the Department of Propaganda during the Irish War of Independence. and its offices were originally located at No. 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin. The paper's first editor was Desmond FitzGerald,...
which was produced at this time. He would write several short stories for de Valera under various pseudonyms. Gallagher served long stints in prison due to his IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
involvement and went on many hunger strikes (the shortest lasting three days, the longest 41).
In December 1931 Gallagher was prosecuted by a Irish Free State Military tribunal for Seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
for publishing articles alleging Gardaí had mistreated the opponents (i.e. Anti-Treaty republicans) of the Irish Free State government, this was facilitated by Amendment No. 17 of Constitution of the Irish Free State
Constitution of the Irish Free State
The Constitution of the Irish Free State was the first constitution of the independent Irish state. It was enacted with the adoption of the Constitution of the Irish Free State Act 1922, of which it formed a part...
, he was convicted and fined £50.
Prior to the establishment of Fianna Fáil, Gallagher in the 1920's contributed to An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht is the official newspaper of Sinn Féin in Ireland. It is published once a month, and according to its website sells an average of up to 15,000 copies every month and was the first Irish paper to provide an edition online and currently having in excess of 100,000 website hits per...
the weekly newspaper of the republican movement. He was subsequently de Valera's director of publicity and editor the The Irish Press
The Irish Press
The Irish Press was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.-Foundation:...
in 1931 and was appointed deputy director of Radio Éireann in 1936. He would later serve as the director of the Government Information Bureau from 1939–48 and again through 1951-54. Gallagher has composed numerous short stories, biographies and historical pieces.
At the time of his death he was working on a biography of de Valera. Portions of it were published posthumously as The Anglo-Irish Treaty (1965). Gallagher's implacable hostility to the Treaty inevitably colours his analysis; but despite his belief that de Valera was entirely in the right in the ensuing conflict, he makes impressive efforts to be fair to those who negotiated the Treaty, especially Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith was the founder and third leader of Sinn Féin. He served as President of Dáil Éireann from January to August 1922, and was head of the Irish delegation at the negotiations in London that produced the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.-Early life:...
.