Patrick Houlihan

Patrick Houlihan (25 March 1889 – 4 May 1963) was an Irish revolutionary and Fianna Fáil politician.

Revolutionary period

Houlihan was active with the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and the Irish Volunteers prior to the 1916 Easter Rising. During the War of Independence, he took part IRA operations and attacks in Feakle, Curraghkyle, Broadford, Caher and Dalystown.^[1] He played a key role in the ambush at Ballyturin, County Galway when Royal Irish Constabulary District Inspector Cecil Blake, his wife Eliza Blake and two British Army officers (Capt F.W.M. Cornwallis and Lt William McCreery of the 17th Lancers) were killed (15 May 1921). Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, Houlihan was Brigade Vice Commandant of East Clare Brigade, 1 Western Division, IRA and Column Commander of IRA Active service unit and was active until his capture by National forces in September 1922. He was interned until July 1924. Houlihan later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 7 and 1/2 years service in 1937 at Grade D for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1917 and 30 September 1923.^[1]

Political career

A farmer, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency at the June 1927 general election.^[2] He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election but lost his seat at the 1932 general election.^[3] He was elected again at the 1933 general election, but lost his seat at the 1937 general election.

He died on 5 May 1963, aged 73^[4]

References