Hugh O'Doherty facts for kids

Hugh O'Doherty was an important Irish nationalist politician who lived in the early 1900s. He worked as a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer, in County Londonderry in Ireland. O'Doherty is remembered for becoming the first Roman Catholic and nationalist Mayor of Derry.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Hugh O'Doherty started his career as a lawyer in County Londonderry. He was a strong supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, a famous Irish political leader. O'Doherty helped create the Irish National League, which was a political group working for Irish rights.

After Parnell passed away, O'Doherty stepped away from politics for a while. He returned in 1918. That year, he was elected as a councillor for the Nationalist Party to the Derry Corporation. The Derry Corporation was like the local government for the city of Derry. Sadly, in 1918, his daughter drowned when the ship RMS Leinster sank.

Becoming Mayor of Derry

In 1920, a big change happened in the Londonderry Corporation. For the first time, politicians who supported Irish nationalism became the majority. This meant they had more power in the local government.

Because of this shift, Hugh O'Doherty was chosen as the new Mayor of Derry. This was a very important moment because he was the first nationalist and the first Roman Catholic person to hold this position. Being the Mayor of Derry also meant he became a member of the Senate of Northern Ireland, which was part of the government for Northern Ireland.

A Neutral Leader

O'Doherty was seen as a good choice for mayor because he was considered a neutral person. This meant he was acceptable to both the Nationalist Party and the Sinn Féin political groups. These groups had similar goals but sometimes had different ideas on how to achieve them.

As mayor, O'Doherty made some notable decisions. He ordered that the Union Jack flag, which represents the United Kingdom, should not be flown from the Guildhall. The Guildhall is an important building in Derry. He also strongly believed that Derry should become part of the Irish Free State. The Irish Free State was a new independent country that was formed in 1922.

Working for Unity

In 1922, O'Doherty tried to bring all nationalists in Northern Ireland together. He organized a conference to help them create a common plan. This was an early effort to unite different groups who wanted to see a united Ireland.

Later Years and Legacy

Hugh O'Doherty's time as Mayor of Derry ended in 1923. He passed away the following year, on March 10, 1924. He is remembered as a key figure in the political history of Derry and Northern Ireland during a time of great change.