Stephen Fuller
Encyclopedia
Stephen Fuller was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
Party politician who served as TD
for the Kerry North constituency.
Fuller served in the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) during the Irish War of Independence
(1919–1921). He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
in 1922 and fought in the Anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War
(1922–23). During the civil war, he was captured by the forces of the Irish Free State
and detained in Ballymullen barracks in Tralee. On 7 March 1923, he was one of the victims of a reprisal execution by National Army
troops. In reprisal for the deaths of five of their comrades at the hands of an IRA landmine at Knocknagoshel
, the Free State soldiers took Fuller and eight other Republican prisoners from Tralee to Ballyseedy crossroads, tied them to a mine and detonated it. Fuller was blown to safety by the blast of the explosion but his eight comrades were killed. He was badly wounded but escaped to tell others of the event, challenging the National Army version that the prisoners had died while clearing a road booby-trapped by the Anti-Treaty IRA.
Fuller left the IRA after the civil war and joined Fianna Fáil
, a political party founded by republican leader Éamon de Valera
.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
on his first attempt, as a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 1937 general election
, when he was the last of three Fianna Fáil TDs to be elected to the 9th Dáil in the 4-seat constituency. He was re-elected to the 10th Dáil at the 1938 general election
, when Fianna Fáil again won three out of four seats, but lost his seat at the 1943 general election
to the independent candidate Patrick Finucane. He did not contest any further elections.
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,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
Party politician who served as TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
for the Kerry North constituency.
Fuller served in the 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) during 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...
(1919–1921). He opposed 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...
in 1922 and fought in the Anti-Treaty IRA 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....
(1922–23). During the civil war, he was captured by the forces 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...
and detained in Ballymullen barracks in Tralee. On 7 March 1923, he was one of the victims of a reprisal execution by National Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
troops. In reprisal for the deaths of five of their comrades at the hands of an IRA landmine at Knocknagoshel
Knocknagoshel
Knocknagoshel, officially Knocknagashel , is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. According to the 2006 census, the population of the village was 760.-History:...
, the Free State soldiers took Fuller and eight other Republican prisoners from Tralee to Ballyseedy crossroads, tied them to a mine and detonated it. Fuller was blown to safety by the blast of the explosion but his eight comrades were killed. He was badly wounded but escaped to tell others of the event, challenging the National Army version that the prisoners had died while clearing a road booby-trapped by the Anti-Treaty IRA.
Fuller left the IRA after the civil war and joined Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
, a political party founded by republican leader 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...
.
He was elected to 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...
on his first attempt, as a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 1937 general election
Irish general election, 1937
The Irish general election of 1937 was held on 1 July 1937, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 14 June. A plebiscite to ratify the Constitution of Ireland was held on the same day...
, when he was the last of three Fianna Fáil TDs to be elected to the 9th Dáil in the 4-seat constituency. He was re-elected to the 10th Dáil at the 1938 general election
Irish general election, 1938
The Irish general election of 1938 was held on 17 June 1938. The 138 newly elected members of the 10th Dáil assembled on 30 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, when Fianna Fáil again won three out of four seats, but lost his seat at the 1943 general election
Irish general election, 1943
The Irish general election of 1943 was held on 23 June 1943. The 138 newly elected members of the 11th Dáil assembled on 1 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
to the independent candidate Patrick Finucane. He did not contest any further elections.
External links
- Stephen Fuller's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)