Larry Grogan
Encyclopedia
Larry Grogan was an Irish republican activist.
Born in Drogheda
, Grogan joined the Irish Volunteers
at the age of 18, which subsequently became part of the original Irish Republican Army
(IRA). He was active in the Irish War of Independence
, then in the Irish Civil War
in the anti-treaty IRA
. He was imprisoned in Mountjoy Prison
in 1922, and was subsequently interned in the Curragh Camp
, where he kept an autograph book
, collecting signatures including that of Michael Hilliard
.
Grogan remained an active republican, and was elected to the IRA Army Council in 1938. In this capacity, he signed the ultimatum to the British government declaring that, if major concessions were not made immediately, a Sabotage Campaign
would be initiated. In September 1939, he was arrested along with the majority of the Council, and kept at Arbour Hill Prison
. The following year, he was transferred to the Curragh, and assumed command of the IRA internees. He decided to organise them in an effort to improve conditions, and in December the group burnt down several wooden huts. This led to a clampdown, including solitary confinement and an incident in which soldiers fired on the inmates, killing one; Grogan was subsequently removed from the camp and given a prison term. Some of his time in gaol was spent with Brendan Behan
, and the two remained friends, Behan often visiting Grogan after the war.
Grogan was released in March 1945, and immediately endorsed efforts to rebuild the IRA. By the end of the decade, he had been appointed IRA Quartermaster General
. He voted to launch the Border Campaign in 1956, and was arrested and again interned in Mountjoy in January 1957. One year later, he was joined by his son. On this occasion, the internees were led by Dáithí Ó Conaill
, but older leaders such as Grogan were regularly consulted. While in gaol, he contested Louth
for Sinn Féin
at the Irish general election, 1957
, taking 9.6% of the first preference votes.
Released before the end of the decade, Grogan became increasingly associated with the conservative wing of the movement. He stood again in Louth at the Irish general election, 1961
, managing only 4.5% of the vote, and became a vice-president of Sinn Féin in 1962, serving until 1969. In the split of 1970, Grogan supported the provisional wing, remaining on Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle.
Born in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, Grogan joined 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"...
at the age of 18, which subsequently became part of the original Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA). He was active in the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, then in the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
in the anti-treaty IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
. He was imprisoned in Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison , founded as Mountjoy Gaol, nicknamed The Joy, is a medium security prison located in Phibsboro in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. It has the largest prison population in Ireland.The current prison governor is Mr...
in 1922, and was subsequently interned in the Curragh Camp
Curragh Camp
The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :...
, where he kept an autograph book
Autograph book
An autograph book is a book in which one collects the autographs of others. Traditionally, these books would include small pieces of verse, personal messages, poems, and drawings from one's friends. Yearbooks, friendship books, and guest books are modern derivations...
, collecting signatures including that of Michael Hilliard
Michael Hilliard
Michael Hilliard was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1943 general election, as a TD for Meath–Westmeath. During his career he served in the governments of Seán Lemass and Jack Lynch...
.
Grogan remained an active republican, and was elected to the IRA Army Council in 1938. In this capacity, he signed the ultimatum to the British government declaring that, if major concessions were not made immediately, a Sabotage Campaign
S-Plan
The S-Plan or Sabotage Campaign or England Campaign was a campaign of bombing and sabotage against the civil, economic, and military infrastructure of the United Kingdom from 1939 to 1940, conducted by members of the Irish Republican Army . It was conceived by Seamus O'Donovan in 1938 at the...
would be initiated. In September 1939, he was arrested along with the majority of the Council, and kept at Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill Prison is a prison and military cemetery located in the Arbour Hill area near Heuston Station in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. The prison is the national centre for male sex offenders.-Architecture:...
. The following year, he was transferred to the Curragh, and assumed command of the IRA internees. He decided to organise them in an effort to improve conditions, and in December the group burnt down several wooden huts. This led to a clampdown, including solitary confinement and an incident in which soldiers fired on the inmates, killing one; Grogan was subsequently removed from the camp and given a prison term. Some of his time in gaol was spent with Brendan Behan
Brendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
, and the two remained friends, Behan often visiting Grogan after the war.
Grogan was released in March 1945, and immediately endorsed efforts to rebuild the IRA. By the end of the decade, he had been appointed IRA Quartermaster General
IRA Quartermaster General
The IRA Quartermaster General runs a department which is responsible for obtaining, concealing and maintaining the store of weaponry of the Irish Republican Army....
. He voted to launch the Border Campaign in 1956, and was arrested and again interned in Mountjoy in January 1957. One year later, he was joined by his son. On this occasion, the internees were led by Dáithí Ó Conaill
Dáithí Ó Conaill
Dáithí Ó Conaill was an Irish republican, a member of the IRA Army Council, vice-president of Sinn Féin and Republican Sinn Féin. He was also the first chief of staff of the Continuity IRA.-Joins IRA:...
, but older leaders such as Grogan were regularly consulted. While in gaol, he contested Louth
Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
for 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...
at the Irish general election, 1957
Irish general election, 1957
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...
, taking 9.6% of the first preference votes.
Released before the end of the decade, Grogan became increasingly associated with the conservative wing of the movement. He stood again in Louth at the Irish general election, 1961
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
, managing only 4.5% of the vote, and became a vice-president of Sinn Féin in 1962, serving until 1969. In the split of 1970, Grogan supported the provisional wing, remaining on Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle.