Stephen McGonagle
Encyclopedia
Stephen McGonagle was a Northern Irish
and Irish
trade unionist.
Born in Derry
, Ireland, McGonagle worked as a plumber. He joined the Derry Labour Party, a small anti-partitionist
grouping, but resigned in 1946 in protest at its alliance with the Nationalist Party
, instead joining the Northern Ireland Labour Party
. However, this party became increasingly unionist in outlook, so in 1949 he resigned to join the Irish Labour Party. Active in the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
, and became secretary of its Derry branch in 1949. In 1952, he persuaded the majority of its members - around 4,000 mostly female workers - to break away and form the Clothing Workers' Union, which soon merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
, and in 1954 McGonagle became secretary of its Derry branch.
McGonagle stood as an independent Labour candidate in Foyle
at the 1958
and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections
.
He took approximately 40% of the vote and second place on each occasion, behind Eddie McAteer
. He stood on a platform advocating the reunification of Ireland, the ending of religious discrimination, and action on social issues.
In 1968, McGonagle was the chairman of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
(ICTU). Later in the year, following civil unrest in Derry, he was appointed vice-chairman of a new Development Commission, which replaced the city's local government. He resigned in 1971, along with the other Roman Catholic members of the commission, following the introduction of internment
without trial. Following the 1972 death of Jim Cox, President of the ICTU, McGonagle took up the post, and he was re-elected to serve in 1973.
In 1974, he took up a post as Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Complaints, serving for five years, while in 1977 he became chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Complaints Board. He also chaired the 1982 enquiry into the Kincora Boys' Home scandal. In 1983, he was appointed to the Seanad Éireann
and, facing opposition from unionists, resigned all his public posts in Northern Ireland. While an independent
member of the Seanad, he participated in the New Ireland Forum
as part of the Irish Labour Party team.
People of Northern Ireland
Northern Irish people or people of Northern Ireland are "all persons born in Northern Ireland and having, at the time of their birth, at least one parent who is a British citizen, an Irish citizen or is otherwise entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of...
and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
trade unionist.
Born in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Ireland, McGonagle worked as a plumber. He joined the Derry Labour Party, a small anti-partitionist
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
grouping, but resigned in 1946 in protest at its alliance with the Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
, instead joining the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
. However, this party became increasingly unionist in outlook, so in 1949 he resigned to join the Irish Labour Party. Active in the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded as the Tailors and Garment Workers' Union in 1920 with the merger of the Scottish Operative Tailors and Tailoresses' Association and the United Garment Workers' Union...
, and became secretary of its Derry branch in 1949. In 1952, he persuaded the majority of its members - around 4,000 mostly female workers - to break away and form the Clothing Workers' Union, which soon merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
The Irish Transport and General Workers Union, an Irish trade union, was founded by James Larkin in 1908 as a general union. Initially drawing its membership from branches of the Liverpool-based National Union of Dock Labourers, from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a...
, and in 1954 McGonagle became secretary of its Derry branch.
McGonagle stood as an independent Labour candidate in Foyle
Foyle (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Foyle was a single member constituency in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It was created in 1929 as one of the five single-member constituencies replacing the former five-member Londonderry constituency...
at the 1958
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections
Northern Ireland general election, 1962
-Seats summary:-References:*...
.
He took approximately 40% of the vote and second place on each occasion, behind Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer
Eddie McAteer was an nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, McAteer's family moved to Derry in Northern Ireland while he was young. In 1930 he joined the Inland Revenue, where he worked until 1944. He then became an accountant and more actively involved in politics...
. He stood on a platform advocating the reunification of Ireland, the ending of religious discrimination, and action on social issues.
In 1968, McGonagle was the chairman of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
(ICTU). Later in the year, following civil unrest in Derry, he was appointed vice-chairman of a new Development Commission, which replaced the city's local government. He resigned in 1971, along with the other Roman Catholic members of the commission, following the introduction of internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
without trial. Following the 1972 death of Jim Cox, President of the ICTU, McGonagle took up the post, and he was re-elected to serve in 1973.
In 1974, he took up a post as Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Complaints, serving for five years, while in 1977 he became chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Complaints Board. He also chaired the 1982 enquiry into the Kincora Boys' Home scandal. In 1983, he was appointed to the 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...
and, facing opposition from unionists, resigned all his public posts in Northern Ireland. While an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
member of the Seanad, he participated in the New Ireland Forum
New Ireland Forum
The New Ireland Forum was a forum in 1983–84 at which Irish nationalist political parties discussed potential political developments that might alleviate the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Forum was established by Garret FitzGerald, then Taoiseach, under the influence of John Hume. The Forum was...
as part of the Irish Labour Party team.