Robert Malachy Burke
Encyclopedia
Robert Malachy Burke (1907 – 20 September 1998) was a noted Christian Socialist and philanthropist. He was born into a landed Church of Ireland
family at Ballydugan, Loughrea
, County Galway
.
He was active (alongside his wife, Ann Grattan of Belfast
) in a variety of organisations in the fields of community development, co-operativism, peace activism, religion, and politics.
At Toghermore, Tuam
(the birthplace of his mother, Ethel Maud Henry), where he came to live following his parents’ separation, he established an innovative co-operative
farm.
As a Labour Party
representative, he sat on Galway County Council
, but despite polling strongly in Galway East at a number of elections, he was not elected to the Dáil Éireann
.
He entered Seanad Éireann
in 1948 through Agricultural Panel, but resigned his seat on 6 December 1950.
Following the death of his mother, Bobby Burke gifted his property to the Irish health authorities for use in the struggle against tuberculosis
, and, early in 1951, he took up a position as a development worker with an Anglican charity in Nigeria
. Alongside his wife, he worked during the next decades with various agencies in Africa, before the couple retired to Belfast. He died in 1998.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
family at Ballydugan, Loughrea
Loughrea
Loughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.
He was active (alongside his wife, Ann Grattan of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
) in a variety of organisations in the fields of community development, co-operativism, peace activism, religion, and politics.
At Toghermore, Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
(the birthplace of his mother, Ethel Maud Henry), where he came to live following his parents’ separation, he established an innovative co-operative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
farm.
As a Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
representative, he sat on Galway County Council
Galway County Council
Galway County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Galway in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is at Galway County Hall in Galway...
, but despite polling strongly in Galway East at a number of elections, he was not elected to the Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
.
He entered Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
in 1948 through Agricultural Panel, but resigned his seat on 6 December 1950.
Following the death of his mother, Bobby Burke gifted his property to the Irish health authorities for use in the struggle against tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and, early in 1951, he took up a position as a development worker with an Anglican charity in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Alongside his wife, he worked during the next decades with various agencies in Africa, before the couple retired to Belfast. He died in 1998.
Sources
- John Cunningham, ‘Bobby Burke: Christian Socialist’, in J.A. Claffey (ed.) Glimpses of Tuam since the Famine, Tuam 1997, pp.239-53.