Cathal Brugha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cathal Brugha
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| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 1 April 1919 – 9 January 1922 |
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| President | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Richard Mulcahy |
| Succeeded by | Richard Mulcahy |
| Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann | |
| In office 21 January 1919 – 22 January 1919 |
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| Deputy | John J. O'Kelly |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Count Plunkett |
| President of Dáil Éireann | |
| In office 21 January 1919 – 1 April 1919 |
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| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Éamon de Valera (as President of the Irish Republic) |
| Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army | |
| In office 27 October 1917 – 23 March 1919 |
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| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Richard Mulcahy |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 1921 – 7 July 1922 |
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| Constituency | Waterford–Tipperary East |
| In office December 1918 – May 1921 |
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| Constituency | County Waterford |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles William St John Burgess
18 July 1874 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 7 July 1922 (aged 47) Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Glasnevin Cemetery, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouses | Caitlín Kingston (m. 1912; d. 1922) |
| Children | 6, including Ruairí |
| Education | Belvedere College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Irish Republican Brotherhood Irish Volunteers Irish Republican Army |
| Years of service | 1913–1922 |
| Rank | Chief of Staff |
| Battles/wars | Easter Rising Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War |
Cathal Brugha (born Charles William St John Burgess; 18 July 1874 – 7 July 1922) was an important Irish leader. He was a revolutionary and republican politician. He served as Minister for Defence for Ireland from 1919 to 1922. He was also the first Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of Dáil Éireann in January 1919. Later, he became the first President of Dáil Éireann, which was like being the head of the government. He was also the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army from 1917 to 1919. From 1918 to 1922, he was a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish parliament.
Cathal Brugha played a key role in major events in Irish history. These included the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War. He worked hard to establish an independent Irish Republic.
Contents
Cathal Brugha: An Irish Patriot
Early Life and Education
Cathal Brugha was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 18 July 1874. He was one of fourteen children in his family. His father, Thomas, was a cabinet maker. His mother, Maryanne Flynn, was Irish Catholic.
Brugha went to Colmkille Schools for his primary education. In 1888, he started attending Belvedere College. He had hoped to study medicine. However, his father's business faced problems in 1890. This meant he could not continue his medical studies. Brugha was known for being a very serious and disciplined person.
Joining the Fight for Freedom
In 1899, Brugha joined the Gaelic League. This group worked to promote the Irish language and culture. It was here that he changed his name from Charles Burgess to Cathal Brugha. He met his future wife, Kathleen Kingston, at an Irish language class. They got married in 1912 and had six children together.
Brugha became very active in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). This was a secret organization working for Irish independence. In 1913, he became a leader in the Irish Volunteers. This group was formed to protect Ireland's right to self-government. He helped receive weapons that were secretly brought into Ireland in 1914. This event was known as the Howth gun-running.
The Easter Rising of 1916
In 1916, Cathal Brugha was second-in-command during the Easter Rising. This was a major rebellion against British rule in Ireland. He fought bravely at the South Dublin Union. During the fighting, he was seriously injured. Even though he was losing a lot of blood, he kept fighting. He was found singing an Irish patriotic song with his pistol still in his hand. Everyone thought he would not survive his injuries. However, he recovered over the next year, though he was left with a permanent limp.
After the Rising, Brugha continued his political work. On 21 January 1919, he was elected the first Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of Dáil Éireann. This was Ireland's new revolutionary parliament. He read out the Declaration of Independence in Irish. This document declared Ireland an independent republic. The next day, he was appointed President of the Ministry pro tempore. He held this important position until 1 April 1919. Then, Éamon de Valera took over as President.
Leading the Irish Republican Army
In October 1917, Cathal Brugha became the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This was the main military force fighting for Irish independence. He held this role until March 1919.
In the 1918 Irish general election, he was elected as a Sinn Féin Member of Parliament (MP). Sinn Féin was a political party that wanted an independent Ireland. In January 1919, Sinn Féin MPs refused to go to the British Parliament. Instead, they met in Dublin as Dáil Éireann. Because other leaders like Éamon de Valera and Arthur Griffith were absent, Brugha led the first meeting of Dáil Éireann.
Brugha had some disagreements with Michael Collins. Collins was very influential in the IRA. Brugha believed that the Dáil and the Ministry for Defence should have full control over the IRA. He thought the IRB was undermining this control. In 1919, Brugha successfully proposed that all Irish Volunteers should promise loyalty to the Irish Republic and the Dáil.
During the Irish War of Independence, Brugha suggested new strategies. He wanted to move the fighting to England. However, Michael Collins and other commanders did not agree with this idea.
The Irish Civil War and His Final Stand
On 7 January 1922, Cathal Brugha voted against the Anglo-Irish Treaty. This treaty would have created the Irish Free State but kept a link to Britain. Brugha believed it did not give Ireland full independence. During the debates about the Treaty, he argued strongly against it. He pointed out that Michael Collins, though popular, held a lower rank in the official Department of Defence.
After the Treaty was approved, Brugha tried to stop other anti-Treaty army leaders from fighting the new Free State. When the IRA occupied the Four Courts building, he urged them to leave. When they refused, another leader, Oscar Traynor, ordered the occupation of O'Connell Street in Dublin. This was hoped to relieve pressure on the Four Courts.
On 28 June 1922, Brugha was put in charge of the forces in O'Connell Street. The Irish Civil War began in early July. Free State forces started attacking the anti-Treaty positions. Most of the anti-Treaty fighters escaped from O'Connell Street when their buildings caught fire. Brugha stayed behind with a small group. On 5 July, he told his men to surrender, but he refused to surrender himself. He bravely approached the Free State troops, holding a revolver. He was shot in the leg, which caused a severe injury. He passed away on 7 July 1922, just before his 48th birthday. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
His wife, Caitlín Brugha, later became a Sinn Féin TD. His son, Ruairí Brugha, also became a politician.
Remembering Cathal Brugha
Cathal Brugha is remembered as a brave and dedicated Irish patriot. Several places are named after him in Dublin and Waterford. These include Cathal Brugha Street and Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. His legacy continues to be honored in Ireland.
Images for kids
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Cathal Brugha commemorative plaque in O'Connell Street, Dublin.
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Cathal Brugha's grave at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
See also
In Spanish: Cathal Brugha para niños
