Michael Donnellan
Encyclopedia
Michael Donnellan was an Irish
Clann na Talmhan
politician.
Michael Donnellan was born in Dunmore, County Galway in 1900. He joined Sinn Féin
after the Easter Rising
in 1916 and was elected as a councillor on Glenamaddy District council in 1917. Donnellan served as a member of Galway County Council from 1927 until 1945, originally as a member of Fianna Fáil
.
Donnellan became disenchanted with the party in the mid 1930s, as did many supporters in the Connacht
province. He became involved in talks with a number of farmers in order to create a new Farmers' Party
. The original group was known as the Irish Farmers Federation, however it split shortly afterwards between the larger more conservative farmers and poorer more radical farmers from the West over the issue of de-rating. Donnellan lead the latter faction and this group founded Clann na Talmhan
in 1939. However in 1940 a by-election
was called in the constituency of Galway West and his supporters persuaded him to stand. Fine Gael
stood aside hoping to inflict damage on Fianna Fáil who won though Donnellan secured almost 30% of the votes cast. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for Galway West in the 1943 general election
.
Donnellan, however, proved too radical for the party members from the province of Leinster
due to his more left-wing leanings and support for land agitation during the mid 40's. He was soon replaced as party leader by Joseph Blowick
. His decision to abstain on Éamon de Valera
's nomination for Taoiseach
in 1943 led some to suspect he had done so out of loyalty to his old party leader. Donnellan served as a Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister for Finance on two occasions with responsibility for the Office of Public Works
.
Donnellan was also a talented footballer and won All-Ireland
medals with the Galway Senior football team
in the 1920s and 1930s. He died in Croke Park at the 1964 All-Ireland final, shortly before his son, John Donnellan
, as victorious Galway captain, received the Sam Maguire Cup
.Another son,Patrick (Pateen) was on the team. The subsequent by-election was won by John, standing as a Fine Gael
representative.
His grandson, Michael
also won All-Ireland medals with Galway in 1998 and 2001.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan , abbreviated CnaT, was an Irish agrarian political party active between 1939 and 1965.- Formation and Growth :Clann na Talmhan was founded on 29 June 1939 in Athenry, County Galway, in the wake of the breakdown of unification talks between the Irish Farmers Federation and...
politician.
Michael Donnellan was born in Dunmore, County Galway in 1900. He joined Sinn Féin
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...
after 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...
in 1916 and was elected as a councillor on Glenamaddy District council in 1917. Donnellan served as a member of Galway County Council from 1927 until 1945, originally as a member 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...
.
Donnellan became disenchanted with the party in the mid 1930s, as did many supporters in the Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
province. He became involved in talks with a number of farmers in order to create a new Farmers' Party
Farmers' Party (Ireland)
The Farmers' Party or Farmers' Union was an agrarian political party in the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1932. It was concerned almost exclusively with the interests of the agricultural community, and never sought to widen its scope beyond the countryside.The party won seven seats in Dáil...
. The original group was known as the Irish Farmers Federation, however it split shortly afterwards between the larger more conservative farmers and poorer more radical farmers from the West over the issue of de-rating. Donnellan lead the latter faction and this group founded Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan , abbreviated CnaT, was an Irish agrarian political party active between 1939 and 1965.- Formation and Growth :Clann na Talmhan was founded on 29 June 1939 in Athenry, County Galway, in the wake of the breakdown of unification talks between the Irish Farmers Federation and...
in 1939. However in 1940 a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was called in the constituency of Galway West and his supporters persuaded him to stand. Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
stood aside hoping to inflict damage on Fianna Fáil who won though Donnellan secured almost 30% of the votes cast. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for Galway West in the 1943 general election
Irish general election, 1943
The Irish general election of 1943 was held on 23 June 1943. The 138 newly elected members of the 11th Dáil assembled on 1 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
.
Donnellan, however, proved too radical for the party members from the province of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
due to his more left-wing leanings and support for land agitation during the mid 40's. He was soon replaced as party leader by Joseph Blowick
Joseph Blowick
Joseph Blowick was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1943 as a Clann na Talmhan Teachta Dála for Mayo South. He succeeded Michael Donnellan as leader of the party in 1944. Blowick was appointed to the Cabinet in the two Inter-Party governments, serving under John A....
. His decision to abstain on 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...
's nomination for Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
in 1943 led some to suspect he had done so out of loyalty to his old party leader. Donnellan served as a Parliamentary Secretary
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
to the Minister for Finance on two occasions with responsibility for the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
.
Donnellan was also a talented footballer and won All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medals with the Galway Senior football team
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the 1920s and 1930s. He died in Croke Park at the 1964 All-Ireland final, shortly before his son, John Donnellan
John Donnellan
John F. Donnellan is a former Irish politician and sportsperson. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Dáil Éireann for twenty-five years. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dunmore McHales and with the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1960s.-Early & private life:John...
, as victorious Galway captain, received the Sam Maguire Cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
.Another son,Patrick (Pateen) was on the team. The subsequent by-election was won by John, standing as a Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
representative.
His grandson, Michael
Michael Donnellan (GAA player)
Michael Donnellan is a former inter-county Gaelic footballer for Galway. He is the son of former politician and footballer, John Donnellan and grandson of politician and footballer Michael Donnellan. All them have captained the Galway football team in their careers...
also won All-Ireland medals with Galway in 1998 and 2001.