Cahir Healy
Encyclopedia
Cahir Healy was an Irish
politician
.
Born in Mountcharles
in County Donegal
, he became a journalist working on various local papers. He joined Sinn Féin
on its foundation in 1905. He later campaigned against the inclusion of County Fermanagh
and County Tyrone
in Northern Ireland
, arguing that they had an Irish Nationalist majority. He was imprisoned for his activities in 1922, before being elected in the UK general election, 1922 to represent Fermanagh and Tyrone
as a Nationalist Party
MP, but with the support of Sinn Féin.
He was re-elected in 1923, but remained in custody until the following year, in which he did not defend his seat. Instead, he was elected to represent the seat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons in the 1925 election
, but not taking his seat until 1927 due to the Nationalist abstentionist
policy. In 1928 he became a founder of the National League of the North
. In 1929 he switched to sitting for South Fermanagh. In a 1931 by-election he was again elected for Fermanagh and Tyrone to the British Parliament, but stood down again in 1935.
Healy became an insurance
official but continued to write, his output including journalism, poetry
and short stories
. He was again interned by the United Kingdom Government under Defence Regulation 18B
for a year during World War II
. In 1950, he was elected to the British House of Commons for a third time, on this occasion representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone
. He finally sat in the British Parliament in 1952, and held the seat until he stood down in 1955. He left the Northern Ireland House of Commons in 1965, by which point he was the Father of the House
. He died on 8 February 1970.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Mountcharles
Mountcharles
Mountcharles, known before the Plantation of Ulster as Tawnaghtallan , is a village in County Donegal, Ireland...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he became a journalist working on various local papers. He joined Sinn Féin
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...
on its foundation in 1905. He later campaigned against the inclusion of County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
and County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, arguing that they had an Irish Nationalist majority. He was imprisoned for his activities in 1922, before being elected in the UK general election, 1922 to represent Fermanagh and Tyrone
Fermanagh and Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)
Fermanagh and Tyrone was a Parliamentary Constituency in Northern Ireland which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
as a 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....
MP, but with the support of Sinn Féin.
He was re-elected in 1923, but remained in custody until the following year, in which he did not defend his seat. Instead, he was elected to represent the seat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons in the 1925 election
Northern Ireland general election, 1925
The Northern Ireland general election, 1925 was held on 3 April 1925. It was the second election to the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It saw significant losses for the Ulster Unionist Party, although they maintained their large majority. This was the last election for the Stormont parliament...
, but not taking his seat until 1927 due to the Nationalist abstentionist
Abstentionism
Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate in the election itself...
policy. In 1928 he became a founder of the National League of the North
National League of the North
The National League of the North was an Irish nationalist organisation active in Northern Ireland.The group was founded in May 1928 on the basis of a radical programme for the "National Unification of Ireland"...
. In 1929 he switched to sitting for South Fermanagh. In a 1931 by-election he was again elected for Fermanagh and Tyrone to the British Parliament, but stood down again in 1935.
Healy became an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
official but continued to write, his output including journalism, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
. He was again interned by the United Kingdom Government under Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B, often referred to as simply 18B, was the most famous of the Defence Regulations used by the British Government during World War II. The complete technical reference name for this rule was: Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations 1939. It allowed for the internment of...
for a year during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1950, he was elected to the British House of Commons for a third time, on this occasion representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)
Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
. He finally sat in the British Parliament in 1952, and held the seat until he stood down in 1955. He left the Northern Ireland House of Commons in 1965, by which point he was the Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
. He died on 8 February 1970.