Harry Boland

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Harry Boland

Harry Boland (1887–1922) was an Irish nationalist of the early Twentieth Century.

Born in Dublin in 1887, Boland was active in GAA circles in early life, and ultimately joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

He later joined the Irish Volunteers (along with his brothers) and took an active part in the events of the Easter Rising in 1916.

At the 1918 general election he was elected to represent the South Roscommon seat. In line with all the Sinn Féin MPs elected at that election he did not represent his constituents at Westminster but withdrew to sit in the declared independent Dáil Éireann (the First Dáil). He was named by de Valera as special envoy to the United States. He left Ireland for the United States of America along with Éamon de Valera as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for their cause in America. He also received the Russian Crown Jewels as collateral for a loan of $25000 to the Soviet Republic from the head of the Soviet Bureau, Ludwig Martens. These jewels were transferred to Ireland when he returned.

During the Irish War of Independence Boland operated alongside Michael Collins.

He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty along with de Valera, and in the ensuing Irish Civil War sided with the Republicans. In 1922, he was re-elected to the Dáil representing Roscommon South.

Harry Boland was shot by members of the Free State National Army at the Skerries Grand Hotel on July 31. Although the hotel has since been destroyed, there is a commemorative plaque on the site stating that Boland was shot at that location. He died several days later in St Vincent's hospital, Dublin. This affected Michael Collins greatly and may have spurred him to negotiate with the Irregulars as a means to end the fighting as soon as possible. (See Michael Collins - Civil War & Collins' death). He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Harry Boland's brother Gerald Boland was a prominent member of Fianna Fáil.

In the 1996 movie Michael Collins, Harry Boland was portrayed by Aidan Quinn.

[edit] See also

Families in the Oireachtas

[edit] Biographies

Andrew Brasier and John Kelly, Harry Boland: A Man Divided, Dublin (2000)
David Fitzpatrick, Harry Boland's Irish Revolution, Cork University Press (2003)
Jim Maher, Harry Boland: A Biography, Dublin (1998)