Eamonn Cooney (1895 - 7 February 1975) was an Irish revolutionary, politician and trade union official with the Irish National Union of Vintners', Grocers' and Allied Trades Assistants.

Eamonn Cooney
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1938 – June 1943
ConstituencyDublin North-West
In office
September 1927 – July 1937
ConstituencyDublin North
Personal details
Born1895
Died7 February 1975
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
OccupationPublican

Revolutionary period edit

Cooney claimed membership of the Irish Volunteers in Belfast from 1914. During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), he was appointed a Staff Captain in IRA General Headquarters (GHQ) and was involved in intelligence work, raids and the defence of nationalist areas in Belfast.[1] Cooney was arrested by British forces in November 1920 and held in Ballykinlar Internment Camp, County Down until 8 December 1921. Moving to Dublin in March 1922, he transferred to K Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA and used his position in the Grocers’ Assistants Union to give the IRA access to the union's Banba Hall, Parnell Square. Taking the anti-Treaty side in the [Irish Civil War], Cooney took part in the occupation and defence of several buildings around Parnell Square and Bolton Street against National forces. He was arrested in December 1922 and interned until April 1923. Cooney later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 4 and 5/6 years service in 1941 at Grade D for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1917 and 30 September 1923.[2]

Politics edit

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency at the September 1927 general election.[3] He was re-elected at the 1932 and 1933 general elections.[4] He lost his seat at the 1937 general election but was re-elected for the Dublin North-West constituency at the 1938 general election. He did not contest the 1943 general election, but was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1944 general election.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ See Cooney's successful application for a military service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Available online at Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection - http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced. Reference number MSP34REF21160
  2. ^ Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, Eamonn Cooney, MSP34REF21160. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
  3. ^ "Eamonn Cooney". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Eamonn Cooney". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 18 January 2009.