| Seán Mac Eoin | |
|---|---|
Mac Eoin, Studio Photo, circa 1917 |
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| Born | 30 September 1893 Ballinalee, County Longford |
| Died | 7 July 1973 (aged 79) |
| Allegiance | Irish Republican Brotherhood Irish Volunteers Irish Republican Army Irish Free State Army |
| Battles/wars | Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War |
Seán Mac Eoin (30 September 1893 – 7 July 1973[1]) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and soldier. He was commonly referred to as the "Blacksmith of Ballinalee".[2]
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Seán Mac Eoin was born John Joseph McKeon on 30 September 1893 at Bunlahy, Granard, County Longford, the eldest son of Andrew McKeon and Catherine Treacy. After a national school education he trained as a blacksmith in his father's forge and, on his father’s death in February 1913, he took over the running of the forge and the maintenance of the McKeon family.
His national activities began in earnest in the same year when he joined the Clonbroney Company of the Irish Volunteers and was sworn into membership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
He came to prominence in the War of Independence as leader of an Irish Republican Army (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.
At the Clonfin Ambush Mac Eoin ordered his men to care for the wounded British, at the expense of captured weaponry. This earnt him both praise and criticism, but became a big propaganda boost for the war effort, especially in the United States.[3] He was admired by many within the IRA for leading practically the only effective column in the midlands.
He was captured at Mullingar railway station in March 1921, imprisoned and sentenced to death for the murder of an RIC Inspector.[1] He wrote this poignant letter to his friend (and classmate at Moyne Latin School) Father Jim Sheridan, a combatant in the Old IRA and a "Flying Column" member who had been ordained and sent to Milwaukee to study theology:
"Dear Jim, Last week I was tried, convicted and sentenced to die three weeks from today. My poor mother was here yesterday to request that my body be turned over to her for Christian burial. They refused and told her that my body would be buried in quicklime in the prison yard. If you write immediately, I will receive your letter before I died. Farewell, Jim. Pray for my soul."
According to Oliver St. John Gogarty, Charles Bewley wrote Mac Eoin's death-sentence speech. Michael Collins organised a rescue attempt. Six IRA Volunteers, led by Paddy O'Daly, captured a British armoured car and, wearing British Army uniforms, gained access to Mountjoy Prison. However, Mac Eoin was not in the part of the jail they believed, and after some shooting, the rescue party retreated.[4]
Mac Eoin was eventually released from prison after Collins threatened to break off treaty negotiations with London unless he was freed. It was rumoured that Sean Mac Eoin was to be the best man at Collins' wedding.[5]
In the debate on the Anglo-Irish Treaty Mac Eoin seconded Arthur Griffith's motion that it should be accepted.[1]
Mac Eoin joined the new army of the Irish Free State and was appointed GOC Western Command in June 1922. 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. For the rest of the 1920s his military career was a steady upward curve, appointed GOC Curragh Training Camp in August 1925, Quartermaster General in March 1927, and Chief of Staff in February 1929. His tenure of the highest post in the armed forces would not appear to have been a particularly happy period and his departure came in June 1929.
In 1929 he resigned from the Army and was elected at a by-election to Dáil Éireann for the Leitrim–Sligo constituency. At the 1932 general election he moved to the constituency of Longford–Westmeath and served the Longford area as TD in either Longford–Westmeath (1932–37, 1948–65) or Athlone–Longford (1937–48) until he was defeated at the 1965 general election.
During a long and distinguished political career he served as Minister for Justice (February 1948–March 1951) and Minister for Defence (March–June 1951) in the First Inter-Party Government, and again as Minister for Defence (June 1954–March 1957) in the Second Inter-Party Government.
He unsucsessfully stood twice as candidate for the office of President of Ireland, against Seán T. O'Kelly in 1945, and Éamon de Valera in 1959.
MacEoin retired from public life after the 1965 general election and died on 7 July 1973. He married Alice Cooney on 21 June 1922 at a ceremony attended by Griffith and Collins, she died on 16 February 1985. They had no children.
There is currently a controversial plan to demolish his home, Rose Cottage in Balinalee, County Longford and replace it with ten houses. This house served as his headquarters during the Battle of Balinalee in 1920. The plan is facing local opposition from historical groups and residents.
A modified plan for the site which includes the existing dwelling with non original extensions removes is applied for by the County Leitrim owned developers.[6]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gerald Boland |
Minister for Justice 1948–1951 |
Succeeded by Daniel Morrissey |
| Preceded by Thomas F. O'Higgins |
Minister for Defence March–June 1951 |
Succeeded by Oscar Traynor |
| Preceded by Oscar Traynor |
Minister for Defence 1954–1957 |
Succeeded by Kevin Boland |
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