Seán Mac Eoin

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General Seán Mac Eoin (1893 – July 7, 1973) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and soldier. He was commonly referred to as the "Blacksmith of Ballinalee."

Seán Mac Eoin was born in County Longford, Ireland in 1893. He worked as a blacksmith and a farmer but came to prominence in the War of Independence as leader of an IRA flying column. In November 1920, he led the local column in attacking Crown forces in Granard during one of the periodic government reprisals, forcing them to retreat to their barracks. The next day, he held the village of Ballinalee against superior British forces, forcing them to retreat and abandon their ammunition. He was admired by many within the IRA for leading practically the only effective column in the midlands. He was later captured in March 1921, imprisoned and sentenced to death. According to Oliver Gogarty, Charles Bewley wrote Seán's death-sentence speech. While in prison Michael Collins organised a rescue attempt. Six Volunteers, led by Paddy O'Daly, captured a British armoured car and, wearing British army uniforms, gained access to Mountjoy Jail. However, MacEoin was not in the part of the jail they believed, and after some shooting, the rescue party retreated. Within days, MacEoin was elected to Dáil Éireann in the general election of May 1921. Mac Eoin was eventually released from prison after an ultimatum from Eamon de Valera. In the debate on the Anglo-Irish Treaty Mac Eoin seconded the motion that it should be accepted.

Mac Eoin joined the Irish Free State's Irish Army as a senior officer in charge of the Midland Division. In the Irish Civil War, he pacified the west of Ireland for the new Free State, marching overland to Castlebar and linking up with a seaborne expedition that landed at Westport. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army in 1928. In 1929 he resigned from the Army and was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD. From 1948 to 1951 he served as Minister for Justice. From 1954 to 1957 he was appointed Minister for Defence. Mac Eoin stood unsuccessfully as Fine Gael candidate for the Presidency in 1945 and 1959. Mac Eoin retired from politics in 1965, and died in Dublin in 1973.

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[edit] Political career

Preceded by Gerald Boland	Minister for Justice 1948–1951	Succeeded by Daniel Morrissey
Preceded by Thomas F. O'Higgins	Minister for Defence Mar 1951 - Jun 1951	Succeeded by Oscar Traynor
Preceded by Oscar Traynor	Minister for Defence 1954-1957	Succeeded by Kevin Boland