Joseph McGarrity
Encyclopedia
Joseph McGarrity was born in Carrickmore
, County Tyrone
, Ireland
. He emigrated to the USA in 1892 at the age of 18 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. From 1893 until his death he was a leading member of the Clan na Gael
organisation. He also was a successful businessman; however, his business failed on three occasions, twice due to embezzlement by his business partner. McGarrity helped sponsor several Irish Race Conventions and founded and ran a newspaper called the Irish Press from 1918-22 that supported the War of Independence
in Ireland.
arms purchase and shipment from New York
to San Diego for India.
When Éamon de Valera
arrived in the USA in 1919 they struck up an immediate rapport and McGarrity managed de Valera’s tour of the USA. He persuaded de Valera of the benefits of supporting him and the Philadelphia branch against the New York
branch of the Friends of Irish Freedom
organisation led by John Devoy
and Judge Daniel F. Cohalan
. He became president of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. He christened his newborn son Eamon De Valera McGarrity.
and travelled to Dublin in 1922 and assisted the development of the short-lived Collins/De Valera Pact by bringing de Valera and Michael Collins
together before the Irish general election, 1922
. He did not support the founding of Fianna Fáil
in 1926 and opposed the party’s entry into the Dáil in 1927. He finally fell out with de Valera in the 1930s and in 1939 supported the demand from Sean Russell
for the "S-Plan
" bombing campaign in Britain which proved disastrous. He met Hermann Goering in Berlin
in 1939 to ask for aid for the IRA, which led indirectly to "Plan Kathleen
". He was a lifelong friend of fellow Carrickmore native and avid Republican, Dr Patrick McCartan. When he died in 1940 a mass was held in the St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
in Dublin. McGarrity remained an unrepentant physical force republican all his life.
Huge numbers of his papers are in the National Library of Ireland.
The IRA signed all its statements 'J.J. McGarrity' up until 1969 when the organisation split into the 'Official' and 'Provisional' movements.... Thereafter the term continued to be used by the Officials while the Provisionals adopted the moniker 'P.O'Neill'
Carrickmore
Carrickmore is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies in the heart of the county on an raised site colloquially called "The Rock"; between Cookstown, Dungannon and Omagh. It had a population of 612 in the 2001 Census.-History:...
, County Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
, Ireland
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...
. He emigrated to the USA in 1892 at the age of 18 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. From 1893 until his death he was a leading member of the Clan na Gael
Clan na Gael
The Clan na Gael was an Irish republican organization in the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries, successor to the Fenian Brotherhood and a sister organization to the Irish Republican Brotherhood...
organisation. He also was a successful businessman; however, his business failed on three occasions, twice due to embezzlement by his business partner. McGarrity helped sponsor several Irish Race Conventions and founded and ran a newspaper called the Irish Press from 1918-22 that supported the 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...
in Ireland.
Early Years
During the First World War, while the USA was still neutral, McGarrity was involved in the Hindu German Conspiracy; he arranged the Annie LarsenAnnie Larsen
The Annie Larsen was a schooner that was involved in arms shipment in the Hindu German Conspiracy during World War I.The ship came into the spotlight when it was seized on 25 June 1915 by US customs officials at Grays Harbour and found to be carrying large quantities of small arms and ammunitions...
arms purchase and shipment from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to San Diego for India.
When 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...
arrived in the USA in 1919 they struck up an immediate rapport and McGarrity managed de Valera’s tour of the USA. He persuaded de Valera of the benefits of supporting him and the Philadelphia branch against the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
branch of the Friends of Irish Freedom
Friends of Irish Freedom
The Friends of Irish Freedom was an Irish-American Republican organisation founded at the third Irish Race Convention held in New York . Supported by the United Irish League, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and other leading Irish-American organisations...
organisation led by John Devoy
John Devoy
John Devoy was an Irish rebel leader and exile.-Early life:Devoy was born near Kill, County Kildare. In 1861 he travelled to France with an introduction from T. D. Sullivan to John Mitchel...
and Judge Daniel F. Cohalan
Daniel F. Cohalan
Daniel Cohalan was an Irish-American leader and judge of the Supreme Court of New York State .Born in Middletown, New York where he joined and became a prominent member of the Democratic Party and later involved in the leadership of the Tammany Society .In 1912, Cohalan was appointed a Judge of...
. He became president of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. He christened his newborn son Eamon De Valera McGarrity.
Treaty and After
He opposed the Anglo-Irish TreatyAnglo-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...
and travelled to Dublin in 1922 and assisted the development of the short-lived Collins/De Valera Pact by bringing de Valera and Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
together before the Irish general election, 1922
Irish general election, 1922
The Irish general election of 1922 took place in Southern Ireland on 16 June 1922, under the provisions of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty to elect a constituent assembly paving the way for the formal establishment of the Irish Free State...
. He did not support the founding of Fianna Fáil
Fianna 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 opposed the party’s entry into the Dáil in 1927. He finally fell out with de Valera in the 1930s and in 1939 supported the demand from Sean Russell
Sean Russell
Sean Russell is the name of:*Seán Russell , Irish republican*Sean Russell , Canadian author of fantasy literature...
for the "S-Plan
S-Plan
The S-Plan or Sabotage Campaign or England Campaign was a campaign of bombing and sabotage against the civil, economic, and military infrastructure of the United Kingdom from 1939 to 1940, conducted by members of the Irish Republican Army . It was conceived by Seamus O'Donovan in 1938 at the...
" bombing campaign in Britain which proved disastrous. He met Hermann Goering in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1939 to ask for aid for the IRA, which led indirectly to "Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen
Plan Kathleen, sometimes referred to as Artus Plan, was a military plan for the invasion of Northern Ireland sanctioned by Stephen Hayes, Acting Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff, in 1940...
". He was a lifelong friend of fellow Carrickmore native and avid Republican, Dr Patrick McCartan. When he died in 1940 a mass was held in the St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
St Mary's Church , known also as St Mary's Pro-Cathedral or simply the Pro-Cathedral, is a pro-cathedral and is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland.-Status as "pro-cathedral":...
in Dublin. McGarrity remained an unrepentant physical force republican all his life.
Huge numbers of his papers are in the National Library of Ireland.
The IRA signed all its statements 'J.J. McGarrity' up until 1969 when the organisation split into the 'Official' and 'Provisional' movements.... Thereafter the term continued to be used by the Officials while the Provisionals adopted the moniker 'P.O'Neill'
Sources
- De Valera: Long Fellow, Long Shadow, Tim Pat Coogan (1995)
- Memoirs of Senator Joseph Connolly: A Founder of Modern Ireland, J.Anthony Gaughan (ed), 1996.