Seán Caughey
Encyclopedia
Seán Caughey was an Irish republican, and later monarchist, activist.
Based in Belfast
, Caughey was the secretary of the local branch of the Gaelic League, He was the founding secretary of the Northern Ireland Council for Civil Liberties, on which he represented the "Six County Election Directorate".
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he campaigned for the release of 166 internees in D-Wing of Crumlin Road Prison. He was then secretary
of the Belfast Council for Civil Liberties.
Caughey was the most prominent Belfast-based member of Sinn Féin
, then a banned organisation in the United Kingdom
. Considered a member of the conservative wing of the movement, he was known for his advocacy of a "National Liberation Council" to unite various organisations and form a new governing body for Ireland, and the "Éire Nua
" concept. He stood as an independent Republican
in the 1964 UK general election in North Antrim
, but took less than 10 percent of the vote.
Caughey was elected as a vice-president of Sinn Féin
in the early 1960s, but he resigned in June 1965, after the organisation refused to change its policy of abstentionism
, and would not recognise the government of the Republic of Ireland
. Despite this, after the split of 1970, he rejoined the provisional wing of the party, and became an early editor of Republican News
, but came into conflict with the party leadership. He was removed in 1975 and replaced by Danny Morrison.
In his final years, Caughey, under the Irish version of his name, was an advocate of re-establishing the Irish high kingship
, styling himself "provisional high king", as well as a "new Catholic Ireland".
Based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Caughey was the secretary of the local branch of the Gaelic League, He was the founding secretary of the Northern Ireland Council for Civil Liberties, on which he represented the "Six County Election Directorate".
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he campaigned for the release of 166 internees in D-Wing of Crumlin Road Prison. He was then secretary
of the Belfast Council for Civil Liberties.
Caughey was the most prominent Belfast-based member of 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...
, then a banned organisation in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Considered a member of the conservative wing of the movement, he was known for his advocacy of a "National Liberation Council" to unite various organisations and form a new governing body for Ireland, and the "Éire Nua
Éire Nua
Éire Nua, or "New Ireland", was a political strategy of the Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin during the 1970s and early 1980s. It was particularly associated with the Dublin based leadership group centred around Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and Dáithí Ó Conaill who were the authors of the policy...
" concept. He stood as an independent Republican
Independent Republican (Ireland)
Independent Republican was a political title frequently used by Irish republicans when contesting elections in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since the 1920s....
in the 1964 UK general election in North Antrim
North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
North Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Its current member is Ian Paisley Jr.-Boundaries:North Antrim has always been a county constituency comprising the northern part of County Antrim in the north-east of Northern Ireland...
, but took less than 10 percent of the vote.
Caughey was elected as a vice-president of 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...
in the early 1960s, but he resigned in June 1965, after the organisation refused to change its policy of abstentionism
Abstentionism
Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate in the election itself...
, and would not recognise the government of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Despite this, after the split of 1970, he rejoined the provisional wing of the party, and became an early editor of Republican News
Republican News
Republican News was a longstanding newspaper/magazine published by Sinn Féin. Following the split in physical force Irish republicanism in the late 1960s between the Officials and the Provisionals Republican News was a longstanding newspaper/magazine published by Sinn Féin. Following the split in...
, but came into conflict with the party leadership. He was removed in 1975 and replaced by Danny Morrison.
In his final years, Caughey, under the Irish version of his name, was an advocate of re-establishing the Irish high kingship
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
, styling himself "provisional high king", as well as a "new Catholic Ireland".