Mick Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Michael Fitzpatrick (1933–8 October 1968) was an Irish republican
and chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Born in Wexford
in 1893 he was one of the 'driving forces' behind the anti-Treaty
IRA in Dublin during the Irish Civil War
. He was briefly the Officer Commanding
of the IRA's Dublin Brigade and was interned in 1923. During this period he was also involved with the first Communist Party of Ireland
.
Fitzpatrick was a full-time official of the Grocers' trade union
and secretary of its social club at the Banba Hall in Dublin’s Parnell Square. He also managed the Balalaika Ballroom and restaurant in the same area.
He was the key figure in IRA contacts with the Soviet Union
during the late 1920s. In 1927 he attended the first International Congress of the Friends of Soviet Russia
(FOSR) in Moscow
. In 1928 he helped establish an Irish section of the FOSR. During 1929 he was involved in launching the Irish Labour Defence League and the Workers' Revolutionary Party (Ireland). He was also involved in Comhairle na Poblachta
, a body set up the same year to heal the rift between the military and political anti-Treaty forces in Ireland. He visited the Soviet Union again in 1932.
Fitzpatrick chaired the 1933 IRA General Army Convention (GAC). At the 1934 GAC he disagreed with the call for a Republican Congress
and remained within the IRA. His union was involved in a strike with O'Mara's Bacon Shops in late 1934 in which the IRA intervened violently. During 1935 he was involved in the IRA's intervention in the Dublin transport strike.
In 1936 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann
, a political party set up by the IRA. Fitzpatrick succeeded Tom Barry
as chief of staff in 1937, only to be ousted by Seán Russell
at the 1938 GAC.
He was involved in the launch of Clann na Poblachta
in 1946 and a member of its national executive. At the 1948 Irish general election, he was elected as a TD
for Dublin North West
for the party, winning 2,395 votes (10.33 percent of the vote).http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1948&cons=99 At the following general election in 1951, he received a meagre 458 votes (1.93 percent share) and lost his seat.http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1951&cons=99
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...
and chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Born in Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
in 1893 he was one of the 'driving forces' behind the anti-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...
IRA in Dublin during 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....
. He was briefly the Officer Commanding
Officer Commanding
The Officer Commanding is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit , principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, the term Commanding Officer is applied to commanders of minor as well as major units.Normally an Officer Commanding is a company, squadron or battery...
of the IRA's Dublin Brigade and was interned in 1923. During this period he was also involved with the first Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
.
Fitzpatrick was a full-time official of the Grocers' trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and secretary of its social club at the Banba Hall in Dublin’s Parnell Square. He also managed the Balalaika Ballroom and restaurant in the same area.
He was the key figure in IRA contacts with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the late 1920s. In 1927 he attended the first International Congress of the Friends of Soviet Russia
Friends of Soviet Russia
The Friends of Soviet Russia was formally established in the United States on August 9, 1921 as an offshoot of the American Labor Alliance for Trade Relations with Soviet Russia...
(FOSR) in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In 1928 he helped establish an Irish section of the FOSR. During 1929 he was involved in launching the Irish Labour Defence League and the Workers' Revolutionary Party (Ireland). He was also involved in Comhairle na Poblachta
Comhairle na Poblachta
Comhairle na Poblachta was an Irish republican organisation established in 1929.The organisation had the support of the IRA, which had agreed to its formation at its General Army Convention in January 1929...
, a body set up the same year to heal the rift between the military and political anti-Treaty forces in Ireland. He visited the Soviet Union again in 1932.
Fitzpatrick chaired the 1933 IRA General Army Convention (GAC). At the 1934 GAC he disagreed with the call for a Republican Congress
Republican Congress
The Republican Congress was an Irish republican political organisation founded in 1934, when left-wing republicans left the Irish Republican Army. The Congress was led by such IRA veterans as Peadar O'Donnell, Frank Ryan and George Gilmore. It was a socialist organisation and was dedicated to a...
and remained within the IRA. His union was involved in a strike with O'Mara's Bacon Shops in late 1934 in which the IRA intervened violently. During 1935 he was involved in the IRA's intervention in the Dublin transport strike.
In 1936 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann
Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann
Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann , abbreviated CPnaÉ, was a political party established by the Irish Republican Army in 1936. It existed until 1937.The party was led by prominent IRA members...
, a political party set up by the IRA. Fitzpatrick succeeded Tom Barry
Tom Barry
Thomas Barry was one of the most prominent guerrilla leaders in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:...
as chief of staff in 1937, only to be ousted by Seán Russell
Seán Russell
Seán Russell was an Irish republican who held senior positions in the IRA until the end of the Irish War of Independence...
at the 1938 GAC.
He was involved in the launch of 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:...
in 1946 and a member of its national executive. At the 1948 Irish general election, he was elected as a 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 West
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
for the party, winning 2,395 votes (10.33 percent of the vote).http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1948&cons=99 At the following general election in 1951, he received a meagre 458 votes (1.93 percent share) and lost his seat.http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1951&cons=99
Further reading
- Brian Hanley, The IRA. 1926-1936, Dublin (Four Courts Press), 2002. ISBN 1-85182-721-8