George Noble Plunkett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Noble Plunkett (1851 – 1948) was an Irish nationalist and father of Joseph Mary Plunkett, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916.

Born in Dublin, Plunkett spent much time abroad, notably studying in Nice, France, and throughout Italy. In 1877 he was created a Papal Count by Pope Leo XIII for his work for the Papacy.

From 1907 to 1916 he was curator of the National Museum in Dublin. His interest in politics likely came mostly through his son, Joseph Mary Plunkett, and his other sons George and John (it is likely that Joseph swore him into the Irish Republican Brotherhood sometime before his death), though it was following the execution of Joseph that he became radicalized. He was expelled from the Royal Dublin Society for his son's role in the Easter Rising.

In 1917 and again in 1918 he was elected to the Westminster Parliament representing North Roscommon but refused to take his seat and joined the First Dáil, in which he served briefly as Ceann Comhairle. Following the Anglo–Irish War he joined the anti-treaty side, and continued to support Sinn Féin after the split with Fianna Fáil.

In a 1936 by-election in the Galway constituency, he ran as a joint Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann/Sinn Féin candidate. Losing his deposit, he polled 2,696 votes (a 2.12 percent share of the vote).

He was married to Mary Josephine Cranny and they had seven children. He died at the age of 97 in Ireland.

Political offices
Preceded by Cathal Brugha	Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 1919	Succeeded by Seán T. O'Kelly
Preceded by Newly Created Office	Minister for Foreign Affairs 1919-1921	Succeeded by Arthur Griffith

Speakers of Dáil Éireann Cinn Comhairlí Dáil Éireann
Cathal Brugha • Count Plunkett • Seán T. O'Kelly • Eoin MacNeill • Michael Hayes • Frank Fahy • Patrick Hogan • Cormac Breslin • Seán Treacy • Joseph Brennan • Pádraig Faulkner • John O'Connell • Thomas Fitzpatrick • Séamus Pattison • Rory O'Hanlon