Philip Clarke (politician) facts for kids

Philip Christopher Clarke (born April 15, 1933 – died July 6, 1995) was an Irish business expert and a talented cyclist. In the 1950s, he was involved with a group called the Irish Republican Army (IRA). As a cyclist, he took part in the first two Rás Tailteann races and represented Ireland in international competitions.

In 1954, he was put in prison after an event involving the IRA and a British Army base in Northern Ireland. The next year, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sinn Féin in the British government, representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone. However, because he was in prison, his election was cancelled. He was released from prison in 1958. After that, he stopped being involved with the IRA. Later in his life, he worked for the Irish Management Institute and became an independent business advisor.

Early Life and Early Career

Philip Clarke was born in Long Island, New York, in the United States. In 1936, when he was young, his family moved to Dublin, Ireland.

In 1950, he started working for the Irish government. Soon after, he joined the Irish Republican Army. In October 1954, he was arrested and put in prison after an event involving the IRA and a British Army base in Omagh, County Tyrone. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Cycling Achievements

Philip Clarke was a member of the James' Gate Cycling Club in Dublin. This club was part of the National Cycling Association, which aimed to represent all of Ireland in cycling. At that time, cycling in Ireland was split between two main groups.

Philip represented Ireland in international races, but his chances were limited because the NCA was not fully recognized by international cycling bodies. He competed in the Rás Tailteann races in 1953 and 1954. Even while he was in prison from 1955 to 1958, he was still remembered as competitor #1 "who will not be riding."

In 1953, Philip and his friend Colm Christle cycled through France and Switzerland all the way to Italy. They went to watch the UCI Road World Championship, which is a very important cycling event. In later years, he often visited Europe to see big races like the Tour de France.

Political Involvement

In the 1955 United Kingdom general election, Philip Clarke was chosen as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area. He received 30,529 votes and became the youngest MP at that time.

However, Philip was in prison when he was elected. Because of this, his opponent, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grosvenor, asked for his election to be cancelled. The case went to the Northern Ireland High Court in August 1955. On September 2, the court decided that Philip could not be an MP because he was in prison. So, his opponent was declared the winner instead.

Later Life and Career

In January 1956, the Roman Catholic Church leaders in Ireland spoke out against the violence of the IRA. After this, Philip Clarke stopped his connections with the IRA. He asked for his prison sentence to be reduced in 1958. He was released from jail on December 18, 1958, after the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Wakehurst, decided to release him early.

Philip was suggested as a candidate for Dublin South West in the 1957 Irish general election by Sinn Féin, but he did not agree with some of the party's ideas, so he did not run.

He went back to working for the government and later became a lecturer at the Irish Management Institute. He got married in April 1960. At the Irish Management Institute, he became an executive director. However, he disagreed with some new policies in the 1970s and left. He then started his own business consulting company. His company focused on helping with industrial relations (how companies and their workers get along) and gain sharing (sharing profits with employees).

Philip Clarke passed away in Dublin on July 6, 1995.

See also

• List of Sinn Féin MPs
• List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service