Timothy Harrington facts for kids
Timothy Charles Harrington (born in 1851 in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland) was an important Irish person. He was a journalist, a lawyer (called a barrister), and a politician who worked to help Ireland. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
He was a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He represented Westmeath from 1883 to 1885. Later, he represented Dublin Harbour from 1885 until he passed away in 1910. Timothy Harrington also served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin three times, from 1901 to 1904.
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Early Life and Education
Timothy Harrington was born in Castletownbere, a town in County Cork. He went to school at the Catholic University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. These were important universities in Ireland.
His Work as a Journalist
Harrington owned two newspapers. They were called United Ireland and the Kerry Sentinel. Through his newspapers, he shared news and his ideas with many people. He was also part of a group of important politicians from the Bantry area.
Fighting for Fairness
In 1884, Timothy Harrington wrote a special booklet called "Maamtrasna Massacres - Impeachment of the Trials." In this booklet, he looked closely at a court case where eight men were accused of a crime. He showed that the lawyers for the government had hidden important information. This information could have helped some of the men prove they were innocent. His work highlighted problems with how justice was handled.
Political Career and Land Reform
Timothy Harrington was a very active politician. He was the main organizer for a group called the Irish National League. He also supported another famous Irish leader, Charles Stewart Parnell.
Helping Farmers
In 1886, Harrington helped create something called the Plan of Campaign. This was a plan to help tenant farmers in Ireland. These farmers often struggled to pay their rent to landlords. The plan aimed to give them more power and better conditions.
Political Changes
When the Irish Parliamentary Party split in 1891, Harrington stayed loyal to Charles Stewart Parnell. Later, in 1897, he decided to become an Independent Nationalist. This meant he was not tied to one specific political group. He also joined William O'Brien's United Irish League, which worked to unite different groups in Ireland.
Harrington played a key role in talks about land in 1902. These talks led to a very important law called the Land Purchase (Ireland) Act 1903. This law helped many tenant farmers buy their land.
Legacy and Recognition
Timothy Harrington is remembered for his work. In 2001, a statue was put up in his honor in Castletownbere, his hometown. This statue celebrates his life and contributions.
He also had a small part in sports history! On September 7, 1901, as the Lord Mayor of Dublin, he officially opened Bohemian FC's new football stadium, Dalymount Park, by kicking off the first ball.
