Patrick McCartan
Encyclopedia
Patrick McCartan was an Irish
republican
and politician. He was born in Eskerbuoy, near Carrickmore
, County Tyrone
to Bernard McCartan and Bridget Rafferty. He emigrated to the USA
as a young man and became a member of Clan na Gael
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and edited the journal Irish Freedom. He returned to Ireland some years later and qualified as a doctor. He also continued working with nationalist politics and worked closely with Bulmer Hobson
and Denis McCullough
with the Dungannon Clubs and the Irish Republican Brotherhood
.
McCartan was to take part in the Easter Rising
with the Tyrone volunteers but did not, owing to Eoin MacNeill
's countermanding order. He was arrested after the Rising and interned in an open prison in England. In 1917 he took "French leave" to return to Ireland and assist Sinn Féin
in the by-election
s being held throughout Ireland that year.
McCartan contested the by-election in South Armagh
for Sinn Féin but lost out to the Irish Parliamentary Party
candidate through Unionist tactical voting. He was later elected in a by-election in King's County Tullamore
in 1918. He was re-elected in the 1918 UK general election and at the meeting of the First Dáil
was appointed Sinn Féin’s representative in the USA where he would remain until 1921. While in the USA he renewed his acquaintance with his fellow Carrickmore native Joseph McGarrity
. They persuaded Éamon de Valera
to support the Philadelphia branch of Clan na Gael against the New York branch led by John Devoy
and Judge Daniel Colohan in their struggle to focus the resources of the Friends of Irish Freedom to Irish independence rather than domestic American politics. McCartan also assisted with the development of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic.
He was re-elected for Leix–Offaly at the 1921 elections
. He gave the Anglo-Irish Treaty
his reluctant support though in the course of the Dáil debates, saying he would not "Vote for Chaos." He blamed all the Cabinet for the document and claimed that "The Republic of which Mr. de Valera was President is dead." He quit politics for the next twenty years through disillusionment.
He contested the 1945 Presidential election as an Independent candidate and secured 20% of the vote. He became a founder member of Clann na Poblachta
and contested the 1948 general election
without success though was nominated to Seanad Éireann
that same year and remained a Senator until 1951.
In 1932 he published a book With De Valera in America.
McCartan's daughter, Deirdre, was married to Irish Folk musician Ronnie Drew
.
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...
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...
and politician. He was born in Eskerbuoy, near Carrickmore
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
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
to Bernard McCartan and Bridget Rafferty. He emigrated to the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a young man and became a member of 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...
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...
and edited the journal Irish Freedom. He returned to Ireland some years later and qualified as a doctor. He also continued working with nationalist politics and worked closely with Bulmer Hobson
Bulmer Hobson
John Bulmer Hobson was a leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood before the Easter Rising in 1916...
and Denis McCullough
Denis McCullough
Denis McCullough was a prominent Irish nationalist political activist in the early 20th century.-Early career - IRB activist:Born in Belfast, Ireland McCullough was a separatist nationalist from an early age...
with the Dungannon Clubs and the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
.
McCartan was to take 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...
with the Tyrone volunteers but did not, owing to Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill was an Irish scholar, nationalist, revolutionary and politician. MacNeill is regarded as the father of the modern study of early Irish medieval history. He was a co-founder of the Gaelic League, to preserve Irish language and culture, going on to establish the Irish Volunteers...
's countermanding order. He was arrested after the Rising and interned in an open prison in England. In 1917 he took "French leave" to return to Ireland and assist 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...
in the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s being held throughout Ireland that year.
McCartan contested the by-election in South Armagh
South Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
South Armagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency comprised the southern part of County Armagh....
for Sinn Féin but lost out to the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
candidate through Unionist tactical voting. He was later elected in a by-election in King's County Tullamore
King's County Tullamore (UK Parliament constituency)
Tullamore, a division of King's County, was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1918.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 and after the dissolution of Parliament in 1918 the area was part of the King's County constituency.-Boundaries:This...
in 1918. He was re-elected in the 1918 UK general election and at the meeting of the 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"...
was appointed Sinn Féin’s representative in the USA where he would remain until 1921. While in the USA he renewed his acquaintance with his fellow Carrickmore native Joseph McGarrity
Joseph McGarrity
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...
. They persuaded 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...
to support the Philadelphia branch of Clan na Gael against the New York branch 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 Colohan in their struggle to focus the resources of the Friends of Irish Freedom to Irish independence rather than domestic American politics. McCartan also assisted with the development of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic.
He was re-elected for Leix–Offaly at the 1921 elections
Irish elections, 1921
Two elections in Ireland took place in 1921, as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to establish the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. The election was used by Irish Republicans as the basis of membership of the Second Dáil...
. He gave 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...
his reluctant support though in the course of the Dáil debates, saying he would not "Vote for Chaos." He blamed all the Cabinet for the document and claimed that "The Republic of which Mr. de Valera was President is dead." He quit politics for the next twenty years through disillusionment.
He contested the 1945 Presidential election as an Independent candidate and secured 20% of the vote. He became a founder member 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:...
and contested the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
without success though was nominated to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
that same year and remained a Senator until 1951.
In 1932 he published a book With De Valera in America.
McCartan's daughter, Deirdre, was married to Irish Folk musician Ronnie Drew
Ronnie Drew
Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew was an Irish singer and folk musician who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin...
.
Sources
- J. Anthony Gaughan, Memoirs of Senator Joseph Connolly: A Founder of Modern Ireland (1996)
- The O'Brien Press, Kathleen Clarke: Revolutionary Woman (1991)