Frank Lawless
Encyclopedia
Frank J. Lawless was Sinn Féin
member (Teachta Dála
) of the Dáil Éireann
for Dublin County North, 1919-1922. He was a farmer at Saucerstown, Swords
, Co. Dublin, and a member of a widely connected North County family identified with the National movement. He was an early member of Sinn Féin and of the Gaelic League. In the general election of December 1918
, he was elected as part of the Sinn Féin landslide, defeating the Nationalist J. J. Clancy
who had sat for the County Dublin North seat since 1885, by 9,138 to 4,428.
Frank Lawless took part in the Easter Rising
of 1916, being second in command under Thomas Ashe
in the fight at Ashbourne, County Meath
. Two of his sons were also combatants on that occasion. As a result he was condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted to 10 years penal servitude. He was imprisoned at Lewes
with Harry Boland
. He was released in the general amnesty of 1917. He was again arrested in connection with the “German Plot” and was confined in Usk prison. He was paroled to permit him to take part in the 1918 election, was present at the declaration at Balbriggan but returned to Usk
prison on the same day. After his release from Usk he was interned in Ballykinlar Camp.
Like the other Sinn Féin members, Lawless did not take his seat at Westminster but took part in the revolutionary First Dáil
. He was re-elected to the Second Dáil
, 1921-22 for the new County Dublin constituency
. He was one of the majority of 64-57 who voted in favour of ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
in the critical debate of 7 January 1922. He died three months later at the age of 50 from injuries received when the pony trap in which he was riding was accidentally upset. He was buried with full military honours at Killossory Cemetery, Rollestown. He was married with six sons and five daughters.
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
member (Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
) of the Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for Dublin County North, 1919-1922. He was a farmer at Saucerstown, Swords
Swords, Dublin
Swords is the county town of Fingal in Ireland. It is about 13 km north of Dublin city centre and is part of its commuter belt.- History :...
, Co. Dublin, and a member of a widely connected North County family identified with the National movement. He was an early member of Sinn Féin and of the Gaelic League. In the general election of December 1918
Irish (UK) general election, 1918
The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. It is seen as a key moment in modern Irish history...
, he was elected as part of the Sinn Féin landslide, defeating the Nationalist J. J. Clancy
J. J. Clancy (MP)
John Joseph Clancy , usually known as J. J. Clancy, was an Irish nationalist politician and Member of Parliament for North County Dublin from 1885 to 1918, one of the leaders of the later Irish Home Rule movement and promoter of the Housing of the Working Classes Act 1908, known as the Clancy Act...
who had sat for the County Dublin North seat since 1885, by 9,138 to 4,428.
Frank Lawless took part 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, being second in command under Thomas Ashe
Thomas Ashe
Thomas Patrick Ashe born in Lispole, County Kerry, Ireland, was a member of the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and a founding member of the Irish Volunteers...
in the fight at Ashbourne, County Meath
Ashbourne, County Meath
Ashbourne, historically called Killeglan or Kildeglan , is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is about 20 km north of Dublin city centre and is bypassed by the M2 motorway.-History:...
. Two of his sons were also combatants on that occasion. As a result he was condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted to 10 years penal servitude. He was imprisoned at Lewes
Lewes (HM Prison)
HM Prison Lewes is a local men's prison, located in Lewes in East Sussex, England. The term 'local' means that the prison holds people on remand to the local courts, as well as sentenced prisoners. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service....
with Harry Boland
Harry Boland
Harry Boland was an Irish Republican politician and member of the First Dáil.-Early life:Boland was born in Phibsboro, Dublin on 27 April 1887. He was active in GAA circles in early life, and ultimately joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood...
. He was released in the general amnesty of 1917. He was again arrested in connection with the “German Plot” and was confined in Usk prison. He was paroled to permit him to take part in the 1918 election, was present at the declaration at Balbriggan but returned to Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
prison on the same day. After his release from Usk he was interned in Ballykinlar Camp.
Like the other Sinn Féin members, Lawless did not take his seat at Westminster but took part in the revolutionary First Dáil
First Dáil
The First Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919–1921. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parliament called "Dáil Éireann"...
. He was re-elected to the Second Dáil
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
, 1921-22 for the new County Dublin constituency
Dublin County (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin County was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1969...
. He was one of the majority of 64-57 who voted in favour of ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
in the critical debate of 7 January 1922. He died three months later at the age of 50 from injuries received when the pony trap in which he was riding was accidentally upset. He was buried with full military honours at Killossory Cemetery, Rollestown. He was married with six sons and five daughters.
Sources
- Brian M. Walker (ed.), Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 1978
- Dod’s Parliamentary Companion, London, 1920
- Freeman's JournalFreeman's JournalThe Freeman's Journal was the oldest nationalist newspaper in Ireland. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot politicians Henry Grattan and Henry Flood...
, 30 December 1918, 17 April 1922, 19 April 1922 - David Fitzpatrick, Harry Boland's Irish Revolution, Cork University Press, 2003, p. 410, citing Irish Independent, 17 and 19 April, 1922