Frank Sherwin
Encyclopedia
Frank Sherwin was an Irish
independent
politician who sat for eight years as TD
for Dublin North Central
, from 1957–1965.
of 1916.
As a teenager, Sherwin joined the Fianna Éireann
(youth wing of the Irish Republican Army
) and participated in the Irish War of Independence
. Subsequently, aged 17, he joined the Irish Army
of the Irish Free State
. However, he deserted the army after the attack
on the Four Courts
that marked the start of the Irish Civil War
and re-joined the Fianna as a guerrilla fighter against the Free State.
He was captured after an attack on Wellington Barracks
in November 1922 and badly beaten in custody. He eventually suffered a stroke as result and lost the use of his right arm. He was interned at the Curragh Camp
and released in 1924
He afterwards ran a dance hall
and became chairman of the Fianna.
in 1926, and in 1939 was elected to the party's Ard Comhairle (National Executive). During the second world war, he joined the Irish Army
as a reserve with other Fianna veterans. He fell out with Fianna Fáil in 1943 after they refused to nominate him as a candidate for a general election. After a brief flirtation with Clann na Poblachta
, he first ran as an independent in 1945
He stood as an independent candidate in the 3-seat Dublin North Central constituency at the 1957 general election
, gaining 15% of the first-preference vote, which was more than the successful Fianna Fáil candidate Colm Gallagher
. However, Gallagher's death in June 1957, just three months after the election, triggering a by-election on 14th November, which Sherwin won.
The constituency was expanded to a 4-seater for the 1961 general election
, and Sherwin retained his seat comfortably, winning over 21% of the first-preference vote. However, his vote fell at the 1965 election
to less than 6%, and he lost his seat to Labour's Michael O'Leary.
, he suggested that "while recruits should not be actually horse faced, they should not be too good looking. They should be just plain women and not targets for marriage".
He remained a republican
sympathiser throughout his life and wrote in his memoirs in the 1970s that, "The Provisional IRA can not be expected to disappear as if they had never fought and suffered". On the Northern Ireland question he wrote,"the solution to the northern problem is for the British Army to get out... The Orangemen would not last a week against the northern nationalists supported by southern government. If the Orangemen did fight it would be a good thing in the long run as it would clear the northern area of foreign bigots".
Dublin's Frank Sherwin Bridge
, opened in 1982, is named in his honour.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
politician who sat for eight years as TD
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...
for Dublin North Central
Dublin North Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
, from 1957–1965.
Early life
Sherwin was born in Upper Dorset Street, in inner-city Dublin in 1905, son of a carter. He left school at 14 and became an apprentive harness-maker. At ten years old, he witnessed intense fighting on North King Street near his home during the Easter RisingEaster 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.
As a teenager, Sherwin joined the Fianna Éireann
Fianna Éireann
The name Fianna Éireann , also written Fianna na hÉireann and Na Fianna Éireann , has been used by various Irish republican youth movements throughout the 20th and 21st centuries...
(youth wing of the Irish Republican Army
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...
) and participated in 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...
. Subsequently, aged 17, he joined the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
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...
. However, he deserted the army after the attack
Battle of Dublin
The Battle of Dublin, a week of street fighting in Dublin from 28 June to 5 July 1922, marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. The fighting began with an assault by the Provisional Government of the proposed Irish Free State on the Four Courts building which had been occupied by a hard-line...
on the Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
that marked the start of the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
and re-joined the Fianna as a guerrilla fighter against the Free State.
He was captured after an attack on Wellington Barracks
Griffith Barracks
Griffith Barracks is a former military barracks located on the South Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland.-History:The site of Griffith Barracks was originally known as Grimswoods Nurseries. The first buildings on the site were those of a Remand Prison or Bridewell. Begun in 1813 by the architect Francis...
in November 1922 and badly beaten in custody. He eventually suffered a stroke as result and lost the use of his right arm. He was interned at the Curragh Camp
Curragh Camp
The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :...
and released in 1924
He afterwards ran a dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
and became chairman of the Fianna.
Politician
Sherwin joined Fianna FáilFianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
in 1926, and in 1939 was elected to the party's Ard Comhairle (National Executive). During the second world war, he joined the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
as a reserve with other Fianna veterans. He fell out with Fianna Fáil in 1943 after they refused to nominate him as a candidate for a general election. After a brief flirtation with Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
, he first ran as an independent in 1945
He stood as an independent candidate in the 3-seat Dublin North Central constituency at the 1957 general election
Irish general election, 1957
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...
, gaining 15% of the first-preference vote, which was more than the successful Fianna Fáil candidate Colm Gallagher
Colm Gallagher
Colm Gallagher was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who was elected twice as TD for Dublin North Central, in 1951 and in 1957....
. However, Gallagher's death in June 1957, just three months after the election, triggering a by-election on 14th November, which Sherwin won.
The constituency was expanded to a 4-seater for the 1961 general election
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
, and Sherwin retained his seat comfortably, winning over 21% of the first-preference vote. However, his vote fell at the 1965 election
Irish general election, 1965
The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
to less than 6%, and he lost his seat to Labour's Michael O'Leary.
Political views
Sherwin has been described as "colourful". In 1958, when the Dáil was debating allowing women to join the Garda SíochánaGarda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
, he suggested that "while recruits should not be actually horse faced, they should not be too good looking. They should be just plain women and not targets for marriage".
He remained a republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
sympathiser throughout his life and wrote in his memoirs in the 1970s that, "The Provisional IRA can not be expected to disappear as if they had never fought and suffered". On the Northern Ireland question he wrote,"the solution to the northern problem is for the British Army to get out... The Orangemen would not last a week against the northern nationalists supported by southern government. If the Orangemen did fight it would be a good thing in the long run as it would clear the northern area of foreign bigots".
Dublin's Frank Sherwin Bridge
Frank Sherwin Bridge
Frank Sherwin Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. It joins St. John's Road and the south quays from Heuston Station to Wolfe Tone Quay and Parkgate Street on the Northside....
, opened in 1982, is named in his honour.
External links
- Frank Sherwin's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)