Eugene Crean
Encyclopedia
Eugene Crean was an Irish
nationalist
politician and MP
in the House of Commons
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
1892–1910, for the All-for Ireland Party
1910–1918.
He was born in Douglas Street, Cork, son of Daniel Crean, brothers Patrick and Daniel, sisters Hanora, Margaret and Anne. A carpenter by trade, he as involved in the trade union movement in Cork city and as a representative of the Carpenters’ Society, was elected president of the Cork United Trades Workers Association. He was a member of Cork
Town Council, President of the Cork Trade Council until deposed in 1890 for his opposition to Parnell
in the split. He was President of the Cork County Board 1890/91.
In the 1892 general election
he was chosen on the recommendation of Michael Davitt
, who continued to advocate for a place for labour within the nationalist movement, as candidate for the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation
and was elected "Labour Nationalist" MP for Queen's County (Ossory Division). He retained his seat 1895–1900. Then at the suggestion of Davitt sat for south-east Cork from 1900 as a member of the re-united Irish Parliamentary Party
, after defeating the Healyite candidate, and was again returned in 1906. He was the last bearer of the title "Mayor of Cork" when elected in 1899, which was changed to Lord Mayor of Cork
in 1900.
One of William O'Brien
's closest allies, he joined with him from 1910 and was elected as an All-for-Ireland Party
(AFIL) MP in both elections that year, retaining his seat until the December 1918 election
when he stood down together with the other members of the AFIL party. In the previous June, when Arthur Griffith
asked O’Brien to have the writ moved for his candidacy in the Cavan-east
by-election, O'Brien sent two AFIL MPs to Westminster
where Crean moved the writ. Griffith was subsequently elected with a sizable majority. Maume, Patrick: The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891–1918 p.207 (note 322), Gill & Macmillan (1999) ISBN 0-7171-2744-3
Crean was a patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association
in its early years and although a Member of Parliament for 26 years, he died in relative obscurity at his Douglas Street, Cork residence on 12 January 1939.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician and MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
1892–1910, for the All-for Ireland Party
All-for-Ireland League
The All-for-Ireland League , was an Irish, Munster-based political party . Founded by William O'Brien MP, it generated a new national movement to achieve agreement between the different parties concerned on the historically difficult aim of Home Rule for the whole of Ireland...
1910–1918.
He was born in Douglas Street, Cork, son of Daniel Crean, brothers Patrick and Daniel, sisters Hanora, Margaret and Anne. A carpenter by trade, he as involved in the trade union movement in Cork city and as a representative of the Carpenters’ Society, was elected president of the Cork United Trades Workers Association. He was a member of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
Town Council, President of the Cork Trade Council until deposed in 1890 for his opposition to Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
in the split. He was President of the Cork County Board 1890/91.
In the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
he was chosen on the recommendation of Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
, who continued to advocate for a place for labour within the nationalist movement, as candidate for the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation
Irish National Federation
The Irish National Federation was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his...
and was elected "Labour Nationalist" MP for Queen's County (Ossory Division). He retained his seat 1895–1900. Then at the suggestion of Davitt sat for south-east Cork from 1900 as a member of the re-united Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, after defeating the Healyite candidate, and was again returned in 1906. He was the last bearer of the title "Mayor of Cork" when elected in 1899, which was changed to Lord Mayor of Cork
Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork is the honorific title of the Chairman of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The incumbent is Terry Shannon of Fianna Fáil. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the Council.-History of office:In 1199 there...
in 1900.
One of William O'Brien
William O'Brien
William O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
's closest allies, he joined with him from 1910 and was elected as an All-for-Ireland Party
All-for-Ireland League
The All-for-Ireland League , was an Irish, Munster-based political party . Founded by William O'Brien MP, it generated a new national movement to achieve agreement between the different parties concerned on the historically difficult aim of Home Rule for the whole of Ireland...
(AFIL) MP in both elections that year, retaining his seat until the December 1918 election
Irish (UK) general election, 1918
The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. It is seen as a key moment in modern Irish history...
when he stood down together with the other members of the AFIL party. In the previous June, when Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith was the founder and third leader of Sinn Féin. He served as President of Dáil Éireann from January to August 1922, and was head of the Irish delegation at the negotiations in London that produced the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.-Early life:...
asked O’Brien to have the writ moved for his candidacy in the Cavan-east
East Cavan (UK Parliament constituency)
East Cavan was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1885 to 1922 returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.Prior to 1885 the area was part of the Cavan constituency...
by-election, O'Brien sent two AFIL MPs to Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
where Crean moved the writ. Griffith was subsequently elected with a sizable majority. Maume, Patrick: The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891–1918 p.207 (note 322), Gill & Macmillan (1999) ISBN 0-7171-2744-3
Crean was a patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
in its early years and although a Member of Parliament for 26 years, he died in relative obscurity at his Douglas Street, Cork residence on 12 January 1939.
Sources
- Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees, Who's Who in British Members of Parliament 1886–1918
- Patrick Maume The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891–1918, "Who's Who" p. 225, (1999)
- Tim Cadogan & Jeremiah Falvey A Biographical Dictionary of Cork