Death of Cathal Brugha

Cathal Brugha; born Charles William St John Burgess; 18 July 1874 – 7 July 1922)

Career Highlights

• Irish republican politician
• Served as Minister for Defence from 1919 to 1922
• Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann in January 1919
• The first president of Dáil Éireann from January 1919 to April 1919
• Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army from 1917 to 1919.
• Served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1918 to 1922.

Easter Rising

He was active in the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, and was the first Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of Dáil Éireann as well as the president of Dáil Éireann, the then title of the head of government.

Civil War

In the months between the Treaty debates and the outbreak of Civil War, Brugha attempted to dissuade his fellow anti-treaty army leaders including Rory O’Connor, Liam Mellows and Joe McKelvey from taking up arms against the Free State.

When the IRA occupied the Four Courts, he and Oscar Traynor called on them to abandon their position. When they refused, Traynor ordered the occupation of the area around O’Connell Street in the hope of easing the pressure on the Four Courts and of forcing the Free State to negotiate.

1922 - Appointed Commandant

On 28 June 1922, Brugha was appointed commandant of the forces in O’Connell Street. The outbreak of the Irish Civil War ensued in the first week of July when Free State forces commenced shelling of the anti-treaty positions.

Most of the anti-Treaty fighters under Oscar Traynor escaped from O’Connell Street when the buildings they were holding caught fire, leaving Brugha in command of a small rearguard.

Ordered his men to Surrender

On 5 July 1922, he ordered his men to surrender, but refused to do so himself.

Brugha Refused to Surrender

In Thomas Lane he then approached the Free State troops, brandishing a revolver and sustained a bullet wound to the leg which ‘severed a major artery causing him to bleed to death’.

Died on July 7

He died on 7 July, eleven days before his 48th birthday.

Relected to Teachta Dála

He had been re-elected as an anti-Treaty TD at the 1922 general election but died before the Dáil assembled.

He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.