Harry Boland 1887- Aug 1922

[joekilgobinet]

Henry James “Harry” Boland (Irish: Enri Ua Beolláin)



(27 April 1887 – 2 August 1922) was an Irish republican politician and member of the First Dáil.

Harry Boland was born in Phibsborough, Dublin on 27 April 1887, the son of Irish Republican Brotherhood member James Boland and Kate Woods. He was active in GAA circles in early life. He joined the IRB at the same time as his older brother Gerry in 1904, following in the footsteps of his father, uncle and probably grandfather. He was educated at the Synge Street CBS but had a personality clash with one of the brothers so he refused to carry on his attendance at the school. He then went to De la Salle College, County Laois, as a novitiate.

Boland later joined the Irish Volunteers along with Gerry and his younger brother Ned and took an active part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
At the 1918 general election Boland 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) and was named by Éamon de Valera as special envoy to the United States, a role his uncle Jack had played 25 years previously. He left Ireland for the United States of America along with de Valera as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for their cause in America. Boland held the Russian Crown Jewels as collateral for a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic to the Soviet Republic through 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.
Civil War

Boland opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty along with de Valera, and in the ensuing Irish Civil War, he sided with the Anti-Treaty IRA. In 1922, he was re-elected to the Dáil representing Mayo South–Roscommon South. Boland was shot by soldiers of the Irish Free State Army when they attempted to arrest him at the Skerries Grand Hotel. Two Free State Army officers entered his room and Boland, unarmed, was shot and mortally wounded.
“Reports of how and why he was shot vary and it is hard to establish an accurate historical reason, given the highly partisan views of the parties involved in the civil war conflict of brothers”.
He died several days later in St. Vincent’s Hospital. As he lay dying, he refused to give the name of his attacker to his sister, Kathleen.
He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery. The service took place from the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church. The hearse was followed by Cumann na mBan, Clan na Gael and the Citizen Army women’s section.

Boland’s death affected Collins and may have spurred him towards peace negotiations with De Valera. Soon after, Collins was killed at an ambush at Béal na mBláth, County Cork. The Skerries Grand Hotel later became a secondary school for boys, managed by the De La Salle Brothers. There is a commemorative plaque on site stating that Boland was killed in action there.

Harry’s brother Gerald Boland was a prominent member of Fianna Fáil and was later a minister of Justice. His nephew Kevin Boland served as a minister and was implicated in the arms crisis. His resignation from Fianna Fáil and the subsequent loss of his seat put an end to the Boland political dynasty

[C. Flower]

Henry James “Harry” Boland (Irish: Enri Ua Beolláin)



(27 April 1887 – 2 August 1922) was an Irish republican politician and member of the First Dáil.

Harry Boland was born in Phibsborough, Dublin on 27 April 1887, the son of Irish Republican Brotherhood member James Boland and Kate Woods. He was active in GAA circles in early life. He joined the IRB at the same time as his older brother Gerry in 1904, following in the footsteps of his father, uncle and probably grandfather. He was educated at the Synge Street CBS but had a personality clash with one of the brothers so he refused to carry on his attendance at the school. He then went to De la Salle College, County Laois, as a novitiate.

Boland later joined the Irish Volunteers along with Gerry and his younger brother Ned and took an active part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
At the 1918 general election Boland 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) and was named by Éamon de Valera as special envoy to the United States, a role his uncle Jack had played 25 years previously. He left Ireland for the United States of America along with de Valera as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for their cause in America. Boland held the Russian Crown Jewels as collateral for a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic to the Soviet Republic through 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.
Civil War

Boland opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty along with de Valera, and in the ensuing Irish Civil War, he sided with the Anti-Treaty IRA. In 1922, he was re-elected to the Dáil representing Mayo South–Roscommon South. Boland was shot by soldiers of the Irish Free State Army when they attempted to arrest him at the Skerries Grand Hotel. Two Free State Army officers entered his room and Boland, unarmed, was shot and mortally wounded.
“Reports of how and why he was shot vary and it is hard to establish an accurate historical reason, given the highly partisan views of the parties involved in the civil war conflict of brothers”.
He died several days later in St. Vincent’s Hospital. As he lay dying, he refused to give the name of his attacker to his sister, Kathleen.
He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery. The service took place from the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church. The hearse was followed by Cumann na mBan, Clan na Gael and the Citizen Army women’s section.

Boland’s death affected Collins and may have spurred him towards peace negotiations with De Valera. Soon after, Collins was killed at an ambush at Béal na mBláth, County Cork. The Skerries Grand Hotel later became a secondary school for boys, managed by the De La Salle Brothers. There is a commemorative plaque on site stating that Boland was killed in action there.

Harry’s brother Gerald Boland was a prominent member of Fianna Fáil and was later a minister of Justice. His nephew Kevin Boland served as a minister and was implicated in the arms crisis. His resignation from Fianna Fáil and the subsequent loss of his seat put an end to the Boland political dynasty

Very interesting, thanks. I didn't know about the connection with Kevin Boland.

[Holly]

The Irish civil war, apart from being a bloody disgrace at the time, has marred Irish politics to this day.

[Kev Bar]

Very interesting, thanks. I didn't know about the connection with Kevin Boland.

Thought I had mentioned that on a wined up family tree rant.

As he lay dying, he refused to give the name of his attacker to his sister, Kathleen.

Kathleen being my mother's mother.

(Sam Lord...it's cool you can relax. I had the "turncoat" Brendan Bracken on the other side)

Curiously when the papers from the arms trial period were released to the public a couple of years back, the British Ambassador of the time deemed Kevin Boland the only man of integrity amongst the feuding FF crew.

I believe he grew somewhat disillusioned with life's whole show as time passed.

[joekilgobinet]

Interesting article on Harry's nephew also called Harry

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...312615324.html

[joekilgobinet]

Harry Boland and the Russian Crown Jewels

Following the October Revolution the new Russian Republic, which was seriously low on funds, sought a loan from the Irish Republic, whose finance minister, Michael Collins, had become internationally famous for his fundraising for the unofficial Irish state.

The Crown Jewels were used as collateral by the Soviet Republic for a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic. The transfer was made in New York City between the head of the Soviet Bureau' the de-facto Soviet Ambassador to America Ludwig Martens, and the Irish envoy in the United States, Teachta Dála Harry Boland. When Boland returned to Ireland the jewels were kept in the house of his mother, Catherine Boland, in Dublin City during the Irish War of Independence. Before Boland died, during the Battle of Dublin, he instructed his mother to keep the jewels hidden from the Free State until the Irish Republicans returned to power. Mrs Boland returned the jewels to the Irish Government under Éamon de Valera in 1938. The jewels were placed in a safe in Government Buildings and were forgotten about.

On their discovery in 1948, by the new government led by John A. Costello, it was originally intended that the set of Crown Jewels would be sold by public auction in London. However, after consultations as to their legal status, and negotiations with the Soviet ambassador, it was arranged for them to be returned to the Soviet Union in exchange for the sum of $25,000 originally loaned in 1920. The jewels would ultimately return to Moscow in 1950.[11]

From Wikipedia.

Amazing!

[Kev Bar]

Harry Boland and the Russian Crown Jewels

Following the October Revolution the new Russian Republic, which was seriously low on funds, sought a loan from the Irish Republic, whose finance minister, Michael Collins, had become internationally famous for his fundraising for the unofficial Irish state.

The Crown Jewels were used as collateral by the Soviet Republic for a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic. The transfer was made in New York City between the head of the Soviet Bureau' the de-facto Soviet Ambassador to America Ludwig Martens, and the Irish envoy in the United States, Teachta Dála Harry Boland. When Boland returned to Ireland the jewels were kept in the house of his mother, Catherine Boland, in Dublin City during the Irish War of Independence. Before Boland died, during the Battle of Dublin, he instructed his mother to keep the jewels hidden from the Free State until the Irish Republicans returned to power. Mrs Boland returned the jewels to the Irish Government under Éamon de Valera in 1938. The jewels were placed in a safe in Government Buildings and were forgotten about.

On their discovery in 1948, by the new government led by John A. Costello, it was originally intended that the set of Crown Jewels would be sold by public auction in London. However, after consultations as to their legal status, and negotiations with the Soviet ambassador, it was arranged for them to be returned to the Soviet Union in exchange for the sum of $25,000 originally loaned in 1920. The jewels would ultimately return to Moscow in 1950.[11]

From Wikipedia.



Amazing!

They were stashed in the AGA and survived several raids.

[joekilgobinet]

One of the most influential revolutionaries of the period, played for the Dublin hurlers in the 1908 All Ireland final, refereed the 1911 hurling and 1914 football deciders, and used his chairmanship of the Dublin County Board to push an IRB agenda. Also found time to work at the 1913 Congress and push for the wearing of county colours, and the establishment of 15-a-side games. Re-elected to office even while imprisoned by the British, he championed the expulsion from the association of civil servants who had sworn allegiance to the crown. (1887-1922)
From 125 Most Influential People In GAA History gaaboard.com

Harry won senior hurling championships with Faughs in 1914 and 1915. He was Chairman of Dublin County Board from 1911–1916.

[Kev Bar]

Apparently the Irish delegation met the Bolsheviks who were also in the US on a fund raising drive.

The Reds appeal did not meet with the same lucrative response as the Paddies' one.

And so the Bolsheviks hit the Paddies up for a loan and got the jewels as collateral.

On their return, the jewels were presented to Collins, then minister of finance, who apparently said he didn't want them as there was "blood on them."

And so they ended up stashed in Harry's sister's Kathleen's cooker - my grandma.

(Just noticed that Wiki says it was Catherine Boland. I'm pretty sure it is Kathleen, the name given to my sister)

Apparently there was a second loan too for which there was no collateral that my brother uncovered a decade or two ago.

The USSR owed the Republic several hundred bucks it transpired.

My Mother tried to get the Russians to allow her go visit the jewels back in the 80s.

Various line of communication were explored but with no success in the end.

[disability student]

We had an art teacher in our art class, whose sibling was Kevin Boland. She was very fiery and hated FF for what they did to his brother. She used to tell us stories, which was interesting. FF interfered and sometimes blocked or spread rumours, which was their best department such as prevent a job/backstabbing etc.

She told us that she had a huge difficulty in dealing with one art college because of FF and their political appointees at College art council. She had to resign and steer away from FF. We realized at that time, FF can be very dirty and devious at times. She told us about Haughey and his cronies. One of his crony friends tried to threaten President Hillery at one stage re blackmail- affair etc. She knew it all.

She was a fascinating character and she was a brillant art teacher.. the best i ever came across. She helped us and improved our grades. Previous art teacher/s weren't good.

[People Korps]

We had an art teacher in our art class, whose sibling was Kevin Boland. She was very fiery and hated FF for what they did to his brother. She used to tell us stories, which was interesting. FF interfered and sometimes blocked or spread rumours, which was their best department such as prevent a job/backstabbing etc.

She told us that she had a huge difficulty in dealing with one art college because of FF and their political appointees at College art council. She had to resign and steer away from FF. We realized at that time, FF can be very dirty and devious at times. She told us about Haughey and his cronies. One of his crony friends tried to threaten President Hillery at one stage re blackmail- affair etc. She knew it all.

She was a fascinating character and she was a brillant art teacher.. the best i ever came across. She helped us and improved our grades. Previous art teacher/s weren't good.

nice now thank kev bar

[Kev Bar]

nice now thank kev bar

No reason to be thanking me.