Thomas O'Donnell (Irish nationalist politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas O'Donnell
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| Member of Parliament for West Kerry |
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| In office 24 October 1900 – 14 December 1918 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Esmonde |
| Succeeded by | Austin Stack |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 November 1871 Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Died | 11 June 1943 (aged 71) |
| Political party | United Irish League |
| Spouse |
Nora Ryan
(m. 1897) |
| Children | 10 |
| Alma mater |
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Thomas O'Donnell (born November 30, 1871 – died June 11, 1943) was an important Irish nationalist politician. He was a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for West Kerry from 1900 to 1918. He represented his area in the House of Commons in London. Thomas O'Donnell worked hard to improve farming laws and tenant rights. He was also a teacher, a lawyer, and later a judge in Ireland.
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Early Life and Education
Thomas O'Donnell grew up in Liscarney, Ballyduff, in County Kerry, Ireland. He was the second oldest of nine children. His family spoke Irish. When he was young, his family lost their home during a time called the Land War in 1880. They had to live in a small cabin for seven years.
After finishing his training at Marlborough Street Training College, Thomas became a teacher. He taught at a boys' school in Killorglin from 1892 until 1900.
Fighting for Farmers' Rights
From a young age, Thomas O'Donnell supported the Home Rule movement. This movement wanted Ireland to have more control over its own laws. He was also very concerned about land issues for farmers. In 1898, he joined the United Irish League with William O'Brien. This group wanted to break up large farms and give land to smaller farmers. Thomas O'Donnell was a strong fighter for the rights of farmers who rented land. Even many years later, people remembered his efforts in his local area.
Political Journey
In the general election of 1900, Thomas O'Donnell was elected as the MP for West Kerry. He went to the House of Commons in London. On February 19, 1901, he stood up to speak. He started his speech in the Irish language. However, he was told he could not speak in Irish. This was the first time Irish was used in a speech in the House of Commons. This event quickly made him famous and helped the Gaelic Revival. The Gaelic Revival was a movement to bring back Irish language and culture.
Supporting Irish Culture
Thomas O'Donnell worked closely with Maurice Moynihan, who was a leader of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Kerry. Moynihan also started the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Kerry in 1885. The GAA promotes Irish sports. Thomas O'Donnell was also involved with the Gaelic League from 1893. This group worked to promote the Irish language. He helped the Irish Party push for a discussion in the House of Commons about using Irish in national schools. While he cared deeply about Irish culture, he focused more on practical changes rather than extreme independence movements.
Becoming a Lawyer and Supporting Home Rule
Thomas O'Donnell studied law at King's Inns. He became a barrister (a type of lawyer) in 1905. He worked as a lawyer for many years. He became a strong supporter of John Redmond and his party's Home Rule movement. He was seen as a rising star in the Irish Party. He even supported the Irish Volunteers before World War I. These volunteers were Irish soldiers. During the war, he encouraged people to join Irish regiments in the British Army. He had a large family, so he did not join the army himself.
Later Career and Family Life
After his time as an MP, Thomas O'Donnell strongly disagreed with Sinn Féin. Later, after the Irish Free State was formed, he also criticized the government led by W. T. Cosgrave.
Working for Peace in Ireland
Thomas O'Donnell helped start the National League Party with William Redmond. Their goal was to unite Ireland peacefully after the Irish Civil War. In the June 1927 Irish general election, their party won eight seats. Thomas O'Donnell did not win a seat himself. The National League Party, along with Fianna Fáil and the Labour parties, tried to replace the government. However, they were not successful.
When the National League Party ended in 1931, Thomas O'Donnell joined Fianna Fáil. He became an important advisor and worked hard for the party. Éamon de Valera, a very important Irish leader, often asked for his advice.
Becoming a Judge
In 1932, he became a senior lawyer. In 1941, he was appointed a judge in the Circuit Court for Clare, Kerry, and Limerick counties.
Thomas O'Donnell married Nora Ryan on January 26, 1897. They had ten children together. Dermot Kinlen, who also became a judge, was his grandson.
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Thomas O'Donnell
