John Horgan (Irish nationalist)
Encyclopedia
John J. Horgan was an Irish
Cork
born active nationalist
politician, solicitor
and author. He supported and was closely associated with the Irish Parliamentary Party
as well as the Irish Volunteers
movement. Was a member of the Cork Harbour
Commission for many decades and for a time chairman of the Cork Opera House
.
The son of a Cork solicitor, he was educated at Clongowes Wood College
, Co. Kildare
, before becoming a solicitor in 1902. Through his father, who was Coroner for Cork City and County, he came to know Charles Stewart Parnell
after his father nominated Parnell for Cork city in the 1880 general election
and acted as his agent until his death. Horgan (jn.) supported the Irish Parliamentary Party founded by Parnell, later fostering an allegiance with its leaders, John Redmond
and John Dillon
. He took a close interest in matters relating to the Conradh na Gaeilge
. Also keen on the arts, he was for many years chairman of the Cork Opera House. During the inquest in Kinsale
for the victims of the Lusitania
disaster in 1915 he presided as coroner, after which he joined the Coast Patrol service at Millcove near Rosscarbery
witnessing the sinking of several cargo vessels during the following years. He sat on the board of the Cork Harbour Commission for the unusually long period of forty-nine years.
From 1913 Horgan was associated with the Irish Volunteers
movement in Cork, after its split in 1914 was Captain in the National Volunteers
. In regular contact with Eoin Mac Neill and Roger Casement, he exchanged frequent correspondence with both. Casement, in a long revealing reply to Horgan from February 1914, assured that . . . “freedom may come far sooner than you think. Go on with the Volunteers. . . . I’ll get you arms – if you get the men ready”. However when Casement landed in Co. Kerry
in April 1916 on his hapless return from Germany
, he was determined if possible to prevent a rebellion taking place. After his arrest, the Dublin Evening Mail
published the fact that he had given a statement to a priest imploring the Volunteer leaders to cancel all plans for an insurrection.
Horgan defended Austin Stack
in 1917 when charged under the Defence of the Realm Acts, but from 1918 became firmly convinced that the approach taken by constitutionalists was the only path that would have ensured the unity of Ireland. He wrote that following the tragic incident at Soloheadbeg
in January 1919 the extremists triumphed, but likewise divided Ireland. Apart from his works, he published many articles, including a series of seven articles contributed to The Leader during June and July 1917 entitled An Irish Constitution as a prelude to the meeting of the Irish Convention
.
He died in Cork, on 21 July 1967 aged 86 and was buried in St. Finbarr's Cemetery, Cork, his headstone sculptured by Seamus Murphy
. A life size bronze bust
sculpture was cast by Marshall J. Hutson in 1938.
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...
Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
born active nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician, solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and author. He supported and was closely associated with the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
as well as the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
movement. Was a member of the Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and river estuary at the mouth of the River Lee in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of several which lay claim to the title of "second largest natural harbour in the world by navigational area" . Other contenders include Halifax Harbour in Canada, and Poole Harbour...
Commission for many decades and for a time chairman of the Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. It was originally built in 1855, although its existence has not been continuous; having survived the burning of much of Cork by British forces in reprisal for an ambush of a military convoy in 1920 by Irish rebels,...
.
The son of a Cork solicitor, he was educated at Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
, Co. Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, before becoming a solicitor in 1902. Through his father, who was Coroner for Cork City and County, he came to know Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
after his father nominated Parnell for Cork city in the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
and acted as his agent until his death. Horgan (jn.) supported the Irish Parliamentary Party founded by Parnell, later fostering an allegiance with its leaders, John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
and John Dillon
John Dillon
John Dillon was an Irish land reform agitator from Dublin, an Irish Home Rule activist, a nationalist politician, a Member of Parliament for over 35 years, and the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party....
. He took a close interest in matters relating to the Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge is a non-governmental organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and abroad. The motto of the League is Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin amháin .-Origins:...
. Also keen on the arts, he was for many years chairman of the Cork Opera House. During the inquest in Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
for the victims of the Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
disaster in 1915 he presided as coroner, after which he joined the Coast Patrol service at Millcove near Rosscarbery
Rosscarbery
Rosscarbery or Roscarbery is a town in County Cork, Ireland. The town is on a shallow estuary, which opens onto Rosscarbery Bay.-History:...
witnessing the sinking of several cargo vessels during the following years. He sat on the board of the Cork Harbour Commission for the unusually long period of forty-nine years.
From 1913 Horgan was associated with the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
movement in Cork, after its split in 1914 was Captain in the National Volunteers
National Volunteers
The National Volunteers was the name taken by the majority of the Irish Volunteers that sided with Irish Parliamentary Party leader John Redmond after the movement split over the question of the Volunteers' role in World War I.-Origins:...
. In regular contact with Eoin Mac Neill and Roger Casement, he exchanged frequent correspondence with both. Casement, in a long revealing reply to Horgan from February 1914, assured that . . . “freedom may come far sooner than you think. Go on with the Volunteers. . . . I’ll get you arms – if you get the men ready”. However when Casement landed in Co. Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
in April 1916 on his hapless return from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he was determined if possible to prevent a rebellion taking place. After his arrest, the Dublin Evening Mail
Dublin Evening Mail
The Dublin Evening Mail was between 1823 and 1962 one of Dublin's evening newspapers.-Origins:Launched in 1823, it proved to be the longest lasting evening paper in Ireland...
published the fact that he had given a statement to a priest imploring the Volunteer leaders to cancel all plans for an insurrection.
Horgan defended Austin Stack
Austin Stack
Austin Stack was an Irish revolutionary and politician.-Early life:Stack was born in Ballymullen, Tralee, County Kerry. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Tralee. At the age of fourteen he left school and became a clerk in a solicitor's office. A gifted Gaelic footballer, he...
in 1917 when charged under the Defence of the Realm Acts, but from 1918 became firmly convinced that the approach taken by constitutionalists was the only path that would have ensured the unity of Ireland. He wrote that following the tragic incident at Soloheadbeg
Soloheadbeg
Soloheadbeg is a small townland, some two miles outside Tipperary Town, near Limerick Junction railway station.The place is steeped in Irish history, for it was here that King Mahon of Thomond and his brother Brian Ború defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Solohead in 968...
in January 1919 the extremists triumphed, but likewise divided Ireland. Apart from his works, he published many articles, including a series of seven articles contributed to The Leader during June and July 1917 entitled An Irish Constitution as a prelude to the meeting of the Irish Convention
Irish Convention
The Irish Convention was an assembly which sat in Dublin, Ireland from July 1917 until March 1918 to address the Irish Question and other constitutional problems relating to an early enactment of self-government for Ireland, to debate its wider future, discuss and come to an understanding on...
.
He died in Cork, on 21 July 1967 aged 86 and was buried in St. Finbarr's Cemetery, Cork, his headstone sculptured by Seamus Murphy
Seamus Murphy
Seamus Murphy, was an Irish sculptor and stone carver, best known for designing the Church of the Annunciation, Blackpool, Cork City....
. A life size bronze bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
sculpture was cast by Marshall J. Hutson in 1938.
Works
- Great Catholic Laymen (1908)
- Home Rule, a Critical Consideration (1911)
- The Complete Grammar of Anarchy (1918)
- From Parnell to Pearse Brown & Nolan Ltd., Dublin (1948)