Hugh O'Doherty
Encyclopedia
Hugh O'Doherty was an Irish nationalist politician
.
O'Doherty worked as a solicitor
in County Londonderry
. A supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell
, he was a founder member of the Irish National League. Following Parnell's death, O'Doherty withdrew from politics until 1918, when he was elected to Derry Corporation as a Nationalist Party
councillor. Later in 1918, his daughter drowned on the RMS Leinster
.
In 1920, a nationalist majority emerged on the Derry Corporation, and O'Doherty was elected as the first nationalist and first Roman Catholic Mayor of Derry
, a post which carried with it membership of the Senate of Northern Ireland
. He was seen as a neutral candidate, acceptable to both the Nationalist Party group and to the Sinn Féin
grouping. He ordered that the Union Jack should not be flown from the Guildhall. He also campaigned for Derry
to be included in the Irish Free State
. In 1922, O'Doherty called a conference of all nationalists in Northern Ireland
, in a first attempt to develop a common platform.
O'Doherty's term as mayor ended in 1923, and he died the following year.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
O'Doherty worked as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. A supporter of Charles Stewart 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...
, he was a founder member of the Irish National League. Following Parnell's death, O'Doherty withdrew from politics until 1918, when he was elected to Derry Corporation as a Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Ireland)
The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922...
councillor. Later in 1918, his daughter drowned on the RMS Leinster
RMS Leinster
RMS Leinster was a vessel operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, served as the Kingstown -Holyhead mailboat until she was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB-123 on 10 October 1918, while bound for Holyhead. She went down just outside Dublin Bay at a point four miles east of...
.
In 1920, a nationalist majority emerged on the Derry Corporation, and O'Doherty was elected as the first nationalist and first Roman Catholic Mayor of Derry
Mayor of Derry
The Mayor of Derry, legally the Mayor of Londonderry is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry in Northern Ireland, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The Mayor is Chairman of the Council as well as...
, a post which carried with it membership of the Senate of Northern Ireland
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
. He was seen as a neutral candidate, acceptable to both the Nationalist Party group and to the Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
grouping. He ordered that the Union Jack should not be flown from the Guildhall. He also campaigned for Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to be included in the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. In 1922, O'Doherty called a conference of all nationalists in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in a first attempt to develop a common platform.
O'Doherty's term as mayor ended in 1923, and he died the following year.