Maurice Gerard Moynihan
Encyclopedia
Maurice Gerard Moynihan was a senior Irish civil servant, co-drafter of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland
, Secretary of the Government of the Irish Free State
in 1937, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland in 1960, and Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great
in 1959.
, brother of Sean O’Muimhneachain, a member of the Irish Volunteers
, and later Sinn Féin
and both sons of Mary and Maurice Moynihan (died 1918) of Tylough, County Kerry, a leading nationalist who was campaign manager for the constitutional nationalist Thomas O'Donnell, M.P. The two brothers took opposite sides, Maurice for, and Sean against, the Anglo-Irish Treaty
of 1921, but both ended up working for Éamon de Valera
. A third brother, Michael, who joined the British Army, was killed in action in World War I
on 3 June 1918. Their sister Johanna was a member of Cumann na mBan
, interned along with Sean during the Irish Civil War
. Maurice was also a cousin of Patrick Denis O'Donnell
, with shared interests in Irish history. Maurice married US-born Mae Conley in 1932, and they had five children.
, and won a scholarship to University College Cork, where he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Commerce
.
. He was promoted to become Private Secretary to the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Éamon de Valera in 1932. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach
, and Secretary to the Government in 1937, in which post he served until 1960. In 1960 he was appointed as Governor
of the Central Bank of Ireland, having been a Service Director thereof from 1953 to 1960. He was one of the “architects” of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland
.
(UCD). During his retirement, he also served as Director of the Trinity Bank. He died aged 96 in the Leeson Park Nursing Home, and was buried in Clontarf
Cemetery in Dublin.
and later Republic of Ireland
.
He was also a close collaborator of de Valera in defending Ireland’s neutrality during the World War II
. He is also credited by the Central Bank with having stewarded its development in areas such as the issuance of credit advice to banks marking the beginnings of monetary policy
, the provision of rediscounting facilities, active participation in the market for government securities, the development of clearing systems and preparatory work for a money market, and the widening of fund backing to include non-sterling assets. During his Governorship, the Bank assumed responsibility for the administration of exchange controls, the printing of banknotes in Dublin, as well as banking supervision. He oversaw the supervision of the bank mergers, and the centralization of foreign exchange reserves
. He also initiated monetary research and economic policy formulation in the Central Bank. He initiated the construction of the modern Central Bank premises in Dame Street in Dublin.
in 1955, and was invested as a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great
in 1959.
On his death, he was acknowledged by Mary McAleese
, President of Ireland
, as having served his country “with great distinction and integrity, employing the finest qualities in the public service”. He was also described as a “most independent civil servant, respected by politicians and civil servants alike”, by Professor Patrick Lynch, prominent economist and former Assistant Secretary of the Government. Joe Lee, Professor of History in Cork, described him as one of the greatest public servants who ever served the State, and “a man in whom the institutions of the State found an absolutely trustworthy protector”. He was “imbued with a profound sense of loyalty and commitment to public service”. Echoing Professor Lee, he was considered in the view of the Irish Times "one of the greatest civil servants in the State" (Republic of Ireland
).
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
, Secretary of the Government of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1937, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland in 1960, and Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
in 1959.
Family background
Moynihan was born in Tralee, County KerryCounty 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...
, brother of Sean O’Muimhneachain, a member of 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"...
, and later 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...
and both sons of Mary and Maurice Moynihan (died 1918) of Tylough, County Kerry, a leading nationalist who was campaign manager for the constitutional nationalist Thomas O'Donnell, M.P. The two brothers took opposite sides, Maurice for, and Sean against, the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
of 1921, but both ended up working for Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
. A third brother, Michael, who joined the British Army, was killed in action in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on 3 June 1918. Their sister Johanna was a member of Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
, interned along with Sean during 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....
. Maurice was also a cousin of Patrick Denis O'Donnell
Patrick Denis O'Donnell
Patrick Denis O'Donnell, , was an Irish military historian, writer, former UN peace-keeper, and retired Commandant of the Irish Defence Forces. -Background:...
, with shared interests in Irish history. Maurice married US-born Mae Conley in 1932, and they had five children.
Education
Moynihan was schooled by the Congregation of Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, and won a scholarship to University College Cork, where he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
.
Career
Moynihan began his civil service career working in the Department of Finance in 1925, and his talent was quickly recognized by Finance Minister Ernest BlytheErnest Blythe
Ernest Blythe was an Irish politician.Ernest Blythe was born to a Presbyterian and Unionist family near Lisburn, County Antrim in 1889, the son of a farmer, and was educated locally. At the age of fifteen he started working as a clerk in the Department of Agriculture in Dublin.Blythe joined the...
. He was promoted to become Private Secretary to the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Éamon de Valera in 1932. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department of the Taoiseach of Ireland. It is based in Government Buildings, the headquarters of the Government of Ireland, on Merrion Street in Dublin....
, and Secretary to the Government in 1937, in which post he served until 1960. In 1960 he was appointed as Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Central Bank of Ireland, having been a Service Director thereof from 1953 to 1960. He was one of the “architects” of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
.
Later years
After his retirement from the Central Bank of Ireland in 1969, he devoted much of his time in the following years to writing. His considerable archives are now in the custody of University College DublinUniversity College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD). During his retirement, he also served as Director of the Trinity Bank. He died aged 96 in the Leeson Park Nursing Home, and was buried in Clontarf
Clontarf
Clontarf may refer to:Placenames:*Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland*Clontarf, New South Wales, Australia*Clontarf, Queensland, Australia*Clontarf, Minnesota, United StatesOther:*Battle of Clontarf, 1014...
Cemetery in Dublin.
Influence and legacy
He is acknowledged to have played a “central, constructive role in the coordination of government policy generally”, and “his contribution to the development of the State was significant and enduring....matched only by his modesty and courteous manner” in the early formative years of the newly-independent Irish Free StateIrish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
and later Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
He was also a close collaborator of de Valera in defending Ireland’s neutrality during the 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...
. He is also credited by the Central Bank with having stewarded its development in areas such as the issuance of credit advice to banks marking the beginnings of monetary policy
Monetary policy
Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment...
, the provision of rediscounting facilities, active participation in the market for government securities, the development of clearing systems and preparatory work for a money market, and the widening of fund backing to include non-sterling assets. During his Governorship, the Bank assumed responsibility for the administration of exchange controls, the printing of banknotes in Dublin, as well as banking supervision. He oversaw the supervision of the bank mergers, and the centralization of foreign exchange reserves
Foreign exchange reserves
Foreign-exchange reserves in a strict sense are 'only' the foreign currency deposits and bonds held by central banks and monetary authorities. However, the term in popular usage commonly includes foreign exchange and gold, Special Drawing Rights and International Monetary Fund reserve positions...
. He also initiated monetary research and economic policy formulation in the Central Bank. He initiated the construction of the modern Central Bank premises in Dame Street in Dublin.
Honours and tributes
He was conferred with an honorary Doctorate in Economic Science by the National University of IrelandNational University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
in 1955, and was invested as a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
in 1959.
On his death, he was acknowledged by Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, as having served his country “with great distinction and integrity, employing the finest qualities in the public service”. He was also described as a “most independent civil servant, respected by politicians and civil servants alike”, by Professor Patrick Lynch, prominent economist and former Assistant Secretary of the Government. Joe Lee, Professor of History in Cork, described him as one of the greatest public servants who ever served the State, and “a man in whom the institutions of the State found an absolutely trustworthy protector”. He was “imbued with a profound sense of loyalty and commitment to public service”. Echoing Professor Lee, he was considered in the view of the Irish Times "one of the greatest civil servants in the State" (Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
).
Publications
- Currency and Central Banking in Ireland - 1922-1960, by Maurice G. Moynihan, published by the Central Bank and Gill & MacMillan, Dublin, 1975.
- Speeches and Statements by Eamon de Valera – 1917-1973, by Maurice G. Moynihan, Gill & MacMillan, Dublin, 1980.