Richard P. Gogan (29 November 1899 – 28 April 1982) was a member of the Irish Volunteers who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising.[1] In later life, he became a Fianna Fáil politician.[2]
Richard Gogan | |
|---|---|
 Press photo, circa 1960. | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 1954 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 November 1899 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 28 April 1982 (aged 82) |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
Early and personal life edit
He was the son of William J. Gogan and was married to Kitty Gogan.[3] He was one of the Guard of Honour at the funeral of Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa in August 1915, and was present when Patrick Pearse gave his famous speech at the graveside.[4]
Revolutionary period (1916–1923) edit
Gogan was a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers from 1914 commanded by Edward Daly.[5] During Easter Week 1916, he saw action at Cabra and at the General Post Office (GPO).[6] On Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, he was part of a unit that were tasked to take control of three bridges into Dublin, at the North Circular Road, Cabra Road and Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsboro Road.[5] They came under machine gun and artillery fire from nearby British military units, and an artillery piece sprayed their barricade with shrapnel[7] after which they escaped and took shelter near Ben Eavin House in Glasnevin.[8] At some point in the early hours of 25 April 1916, he left along with Jack Price, PJ Corless and his brother Vincent.[8]
The next report of his participation in the Rising is at the GPO in O'Connell Street.[9] Early in the morning of Friday 28 April, he volunteered as a stretcher-bearer to carry the wounded James Connolly out of the GPO, which was by then on fire. Under heavy machine-gun fire, he and two others (Sean Price and Paddy Ryan) carried Connolly to an Irish Volunteer position in a mineral water factory on Henry Place.[10]
Prior to the Rising, there is a report of Gogan working in a bomb factory at a house called 'Cluny'[11] in Clontarf which was used as an Irish Volunteers' munitions base.[12]
During the Irish War of Independence, Gogan took part in arms raids, armed street patrols, dispatch work and had custody of an arms dump at his father's business premises at 184 Parnell Street, Dublin.[13] Taking the anti Treaty side in the Civil War, he took part in the occupation and defence of buildings during the Battle of Dublin. He was captured in late January 1923 by National forces and interned in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin. He signed the 'form' pledging not to take up arms against the Free State for early release. Gogan reported back for duty but had no further activity. His father's business premises at 184 Parnell Street, Dublin was raided by the Garda Síochána as late as 1927. Gogan later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 6 and 103/500 years service in 1943 at Grade E for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 01 April 1916 and 30 September 1923.[14]
Political career edit
He was a founding member of Fianna Fáil.[4] Gogan was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-West constituency at the 1954 general election, having previously unsuccessfully contested the 1948 and 1951 general elections.[15] He held his seat at every subsequent election until losing at the 1977 general election in the new Dublin Cabra constituency.
References edit
- ^ "G - The 1916 Proclamation". The 1916 Proclamation. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ "Richard Gogan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- ^ "Context: Postcard to William J. Gogan in Mountjoy Prison from..." catalogue.nli.ie. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Ireland: A Television History". RTÉ Television. 1979. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ a b Golden, Jerry (26 May 1951). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 22. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Price, Sean (17 December 1952). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 8. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Golden, Jerry (26 May 1951). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 21. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ a b Golden, Jerry (26 May 1951). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 23. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Seamus (1 June 1950). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 13. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Price, Seán (17 December 1952). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Daly, Francis (14 July 1949). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. p. 7. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Francis, Daly (14 July 1949). "Eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising" (PDF). Irish Bureau of Military History eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising. Irish Bureau of Military History. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ See Gogan'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 MSP34REF1144
- ^ Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, Richard P Gogan,MSP34REF1144. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
- ^ "Richard Gogan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 October 2008.