Robert Briscoe (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Briscoe known as Bob Briscoe was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician who served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) in the Oireachtas
(Irish parliament) from 1927 to 1965.
immigrants.
The original family name in Lithuania is believed to have been Cherrick.
His brother Wolfe Tone Briscoe was named after Theobald Wolfe Tone
who led a rebellion against British rule.
Bob and Lilly had seven children. Only two sons, Ben and Joe, remained in Dublin. Ben followed his father into politics, while Joe joined the army.
Joe joined the army at the age of 15 (he claimed to be 18) in 1945, as a private soldier .He rose through the ranks. He retired in 1993 with the rank of Commandant
.
and Sinn Féin during the Irish War of Independence
and accompanied de Valera
to America
. He spoke for the Sinn Féin cause at public meetings there and was adamant that being a "Hebrew" did not lessen his Irishness. Briscoe was sent by Michael Collins
to Germany in 1919 to be the chief agent for procuring arms for the IRA. Eamon Martin
, former Chief of Staff of Fianna Éireann
, was best man at Briscoe's wedding. They had been close friends during the Irish War of Independence.
at his home. The assault resulted in Figgis losing some of his beard.
In his biography, he recalls an incident of being recognised by a pro-Treaty opponent during the Irish Civil War
. Briscoe merely turned and walked away, confident that his enemy would not shoot him in the back.
, came under close scrutiny from the Irish security services. His support for Zionism
and his lobbying on behalf of refugees was considered potentially damaging to the interests of the state by officials from the Department of Justice. Briscoe was an admirer and friend of Ze'ev Jabotinsky and his campaign to liberate the Jews. Between 1939 and 1940, Robert Briscoe along with John Henry Patterson
, a former commander of the 4th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
, were involved in fund raising for the Irgun in the USA. Jabotinsky while head of Irgun
visited Dublin to receive training in guerrilla warfare tactics against the British under the instruction of Briscoe. During the period Briscoe described himself as the "Chair of Subversive Activity against England". He wished for Ireland to give asylum
to Jews fleeing Nazi Germany
, but did so discreetly in order not to be accused of compromising the neutrality policy
of the Fianna Fáil
government.
for 38 years and was elected 12 times in the Dublin South
and from 1948, Dublin South West
constituencies - from the 6th Dáil
to the 17th Dáil
. He retired at the 1965 election
being succeeded by his son, Ben
who served for a further 37 years.
In 1956, Briscoe became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin
, although he was not the first Jewish Mayor in Ireland. That title belongs to William Annyas
, who was elected Mayor of Youghal
, County Cork
in 1555. Briscoe served a one year term and was re-elected in 1961. After learning of a Jewish Lord Mayor from Dublin, Yogi Berra
allegedly said, "Only in America!" His son Ben Briscoe
was also a Fianna Fáil TD, and he too served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1988–1989.
His memoir,"For the Life of Me", was published in 1958.
The Emerald Isle immigration center in New York has devoted a special award in his name called the Robert Briscoe award. The group celebrates the close relationship between Jewish and Irish communities in New York and honours Jewish New Yorkers who have helped support immigration in the United States. The latest winner of the award was US Senator Chuck Schumer.
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,...
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...
politician who served as a Teachta Dála
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...
(TD) in the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(Irish parliament) from 1927 to 1965.
Family
Briscoe was the son of Abraham William Briscoe and Ida Yoedicke, both of whom were Lithuanian-JewishLithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
immigrants.
The original family name in Lithuania is believed to have been Cherrick.
His brother Wolfe Tone Briscoe was named after Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone or Wolfe Tone , was a leading Irish revolutionary figure and one of the founding members of the United Irishmen and is regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism. He was captured by British forces at Lough Swilly in Donegal and taken prisoner...
who led a rebellion against British rule.
Bob and Lilly had seven children. Only two sons, Ben and Joe, remained in Dublin. Ben followed his father into politics, while Joe joined the army.
Joe joined the army at the age of 15 (he claimed to be 18) in 1945, as a private soldier .He rose through the ranks. He retired in 1993 with the rank of Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
.
War of Independence
Briscoe was active in the IRAIrish 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 Sinn Féin during 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...
and accompanied 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 America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He spoke for the Sinn Féin cause at public meetings there and was adamant that being a "Hebrew" did not lessen his Irishness. Briscoe was sent by 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...
to Germany in 1919 to be the chief agent for procuring arms for the IRA. Eamon Martin
Eamon Martin
Eamon Martin was an Irish Republican.Martin was born in Dublin and educated at Westland Row Christian Brothers School. He was a former Chief of Staff of Fianna Éireann, which he helped to found...
, former Chief of Staff of 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...
, was best man at Briscoe's wedding. They had been close friends during the Irish War of Independence.
Irish Civil War
During the civil war, Briscoe was involved in an incident with fellow anti-treaty IRA members who attacked pro-treaty politician Darrell FiggisDarrell Figgis
Darrell Edmund Figgis was an Irish writer, Sinn Féin activist and independent parliamentarian in the Irish Free State. The little that has been written about him has attempted to highlight how thoroughly his memory and works have been excised from Irish popular culture.-Early life:Darrell Figgis...
at his home. The assault resulted in Figgis losing some of his beard.
In his biography, he recalls an incident of being recognised by a pro-Treaty opponent 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....
. Briscoe merely turned and walked away, confident that his enemy would not shoot him in the back.
Jewish refugees and Irish neutrality
During the Second World War, Briscoe, at this time a member of Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, came under close scrutiny from the Irish security services. His support for Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
and his lobbying on behalf of refugees was considered potentially damaging to the interests of the state by officials from the Department of Justice. Briscoe was an admirer and friend of Ze'ev Jabotinsky and his campaign to liberate the Jews. Between 1939 and 1940, Robert Briscoe along with John Henry Patterson
John Henry Patterson (author)
Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO , known as J.H. Patterson, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, hunter, author and Zionist, best known for his book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo , which details his experiences while building a railway in Kenyain 1898-99...
, a former commander of the 4th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
Royal Irish Fusiliers
The Royal Irish Fusiliers was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of the 87th Regiment of Foot and the 89th Regiment of Foot in 1881. The regiment's first title in 1881 was Princess Victoria's , changed in 1920 to The Royal Irish Fusiliers...
, were involved in fund raising for the Irgun in the USA. Jabotinsky while head of Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
visited Dublin to receive training in guerrilla warfare tactics against the British under the instruction of Briscoe. During the period Briscoe described himself as the "Chair of Subversive Activity against England". He wished for Ireland to give asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
to Jews fleeing Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, but did so discreetly in order not to be accused of compromising the neutrality policy
Irish neutrality during World War II
The policy of Irish neutrality during World War II was adopted by Dáil Éireann at the instigation of Éamon de Valera, its Taoiseach upon the outbreak of hostilities in Europe and maintained throughout the conflict. De Valera refrained from joining either the Allies or Axis powers...
of the 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...
government.
Political career
He served in Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for 38 years and was elected 12 times in the Dublin South
Dublin South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
and from 1948, Dublin South West
Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituencies - from the 6th Dáil
Members of the 6th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 6th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State. These TDs were elected at the September 1927 general election on 15 September 1927 and met on 11 October 1927...
to the 17th Dáil
Members of the 17th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 17th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1961 general election on 4 October 1961 and met on 11 October 1961. The 17th Dáil was dissolved by President Éamon de Valera, at the request of the...
. He retired 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....
being succeeded by his son, Ben
Ben Briscoe
Ben Briscoe is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.-Member of Dáil Éireann:He was a Teachta Dála for 37 years, representing a series of constituencies in Dublin....
who served for a further 37 years.
In 1956, Briscoe became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
, although he was not the first Jewish Mayor in Ireland. That title belongs to William Annyas
William Annyas
In 1555 William Annyas became the Mayor of Youghal in County Cork, he was the first person of the Jewish religion to hold such an elected position in Ireland or Britain.William Annyas was the grandson of Gil Anes of Belmonte, Portugal...
, who was elected Mayor of Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1555. Briscoe served a one year term and was re-elected in 1961. After learning of a Jewish Lord Mayor from Dublin, Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
allegedly said, "Only in America!" His son Ben Briscoe
Ben Briscoe
Ben Briscoe is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.-Member of Dáil Éireann:He was a Teachta Dála for 37 years, representing a series of constituencies in Dublin....
was also a Fianna Fáil TD, and he too served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1988–1989.
His memoir,"For the Life of Me", was published in 1958.
The Emerald Isle immigration center in New York has devoted a special award in his name called the Robert Briscoe award. The group celebrates the close relationship between Jewish and Irish communities in New York and honours Jewish New Yorkers who have helped support immigration in the United States. The latest winner of the award was US Senator Chuck Schumer.