James Colbert facts for kids

James Colbert (3 January 1890 – 28 January 1970) was an Irish farmer and a politician. He was known for serving as a Teachta Dála (TD), which is like a member of parliament, in the Irish parliament called Dáil Éireann. He represented the Limerick area for many years.

Early Life of James Colbert

James Colbert was born on January 3, 1890, in a small area called Moanleana, near Castlemahon in County Limerick, Ireland. His father, Michael Colbert, was a farmer, and his mother was Honora McDermott.

James had an older brother named Con Colbert. Con was involved in the Easter Rising in 1916, which was an important event in Irish history. Sadly, Con was executed for his part in it.

Later, James's family moved to the village of Athea. In 1901, they were living in a place called Templeathea West.

James Colbert's Political Career

James Colbert took part in important historical events in Ireland, including the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. These were times of big changes as Ireland fought for and established its independence.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923. He became a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick area, representing the Sinn Féin political party.

At first, Sinn Féin had a policy called "abstentionism." This meant that even though James Colbert was elected, he and other Sinn Féin TDs chose not to take their seats in the 4th Dáil.

Later, James Colbert joined a different political party called Fianna Fáil. He was re-elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in June 1927. He won his seat again in the September 1927 and 1932 general elections. However, he lost his seat in the 1933 general election.

Later Life and Death

James Colbert lived in Bray, County Wicklow. He passed away on January 28, 1970, in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, a famous cemetery in Dublin.

Interestingly, James Colbert and Michael Colbert were cousins. Both of them represented the Fianna Fáil party for Limerick at different times in history.