Tomás Ó Dubhghaill
Encyclopedia
Tomás Ó Dubhghaill (1917 – 12 March 1962) was President of Sinn Féin
from 1952 to 1954 and a Sinn Féin vice-president until his death.
Born in Drimnagh
, Dublin, Doyle was educated at St James' Christian Brothers
School in James' Street, Dublin. He left school at 16, and commenced employment as a clerk in the Department of Defence
. He later obtained a diploma in social and economic science at University College Dublin
.
Although a civil servant, Doyle became an Irish Republican Army
activist.
Having devised the plan, in December 1939 he participated in the IRA's Dublin Brigade raid of the Irish Army
magazine fort in the Phoenix Park
, devised the IRA raid of the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park, when the entire stock of the Irish Army's ammunition was seized, a quantity of just over one million rounds, and removed in a dozen lorries.
In 1940, he acted as adjutant general to Stephen Hayes, IRA chief of staff.
He was later interned for his activities, losing his position as a result. When he was released in December 1945, he became involved with the Republican Prisoners Release Association (RPRA), of which he was elected secretary in 1947, a position he held until the organisation was disbanded in 1952.
In 1948, he was elected secretary to the Sinn Féin Organising Committee and later became joint general secretary (along with Jim Russell) of Sinn Féin. In the same year, he joined the staff of the Workers' Union of Ireland
.
Along with the RPRA committee, he was involved in the establishment of An Cumann Cabhrach (also known as the Republican Aid Committee) in 1953. He served as secretary of the organisation until his death in 1962.
At the 1951 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis
, he was elected vice-president of the party. He was president from 1952 to 1954 and, vice-president again from 1956 to 1962.
In July 1957, along with the leadership of Sinn Féin, he was arrested and later interned in The Curragh.
In the 1957 Irish general election
, Ó Dubhghaill stood unsuccessfully as a Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin South Central
constituency, polling 1,734 first preferences (5.43 per cent of the valid poll). He was a candidate for the same party in the Dublin South West
by-election of 22 July 1959, when he polled 1,341 first preferences (5.37 per cent of the valid poll). His last electoral contest, again unsuccessful, was in the 1961 Irish general election
, when he polled 622 votes or 1.94 percent of the valid poll.
He died in St Luke's Hospital on 12 March 1962 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
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...
from 1952 to 1954 and a Sinn Féin vice-president until his death.
Born in Drimnagh
Drimnagh
Drimnagh is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city between Walkinstown, Crumlin and Inchicore, bordering the Grand Canal to the north and east. Drimnagh is in postal district Dublin 12.-Early to Medieval:...
, Dublin, Doyle was educated at St James' Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
School in James' Street, Dublin. He left school at 16, and commenced employment as a clerk in the Department of Defence
Minister for Defence (Ireland)
The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
. He later obtained a diploma in social and economic science at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
Although a civil servant, Doyle became an Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
activist.
Having devised the plan, in December 1939 he participated in the IRA's Dublin Brigade raid of the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
magazine fort in the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, devised the IRA raid of the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park, when the entire stock of the Irish Army's ammunition was seized, a quantity of just over one million rounds, and removed in a dozen lorries.
In 1940, he acted as adjutant general to Stephen Hayes, IRA chief of staff.
He was later interned for his activities, losing his position as a result. When he was released in December 1945, he became involved with the Republican Prisoners Release Association (RPRA), of which he was elected secretary in 1947, a position he held until the organisation was disbanded in 1952.
In 1948, he was elected secretary to the Sinn Féin Organising Committee and later became joint general secretary (along with Jim Russell) of Sinn Féin. In the same year, he joined the staff of the Workers' Union of Ireland
Workers' Union of Ireland
The Workers' Union of Ireland , later the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland, was an Irish trade union formed in 1924. In 1990, it merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union .- Formation :The WUI was formed in 1924...
.
Along with the RPRA committee, he was involved in the establishment of An Cumann Cabhrach (also known as the Republican Aid Committee) in 1953. He served as secretary of the organisation until his death in 1962.
At the 1951 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis
Ard Fheis
Ardfheis or Ard Fheis is the name used by many Irish political parties for their annual party conference. The term was first used by Conradh na Gaeilge, the Irish language cultural organisation, for its annual convention....
, he was elected vice-president of the party. He was president from 1952 to 1954 and, vice-president again from 1956 to 1962.
In July 1957, along with the leadership of Sinn Féin, he was arrested and later interned in The Curragh.
In the 1957 Irish general election
Irish general election, 1957
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...
, Ó Dubhghaill stood unsuccessfully as a Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin South Central
Dublin South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency, polling 1,734 first preferences (5.43 per cent of the valid poll). He was a candidate for the same party in the 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...
by-election of 22 July 1959, when he polled 1,341 first preferences (5.37 per cent of the valid poll). His last electoral contest, again unsuccessful, was in the 1961 Irish general election
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
, when he polled 622 votes or 1.94 percent of the valid poll.
He died in St Luke's Hospital on 12 March 1962 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.