Image: Dublin Chronicle

Description: Text of Captain D. D. Sheehan’s self-biography as published 27 September 1930 in the Dublin Chronicle above on the occasion of a front page promotion for the Irish Labour Party’s candidates standing in the Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire Borough local elections, on 29 September 1930. A Lifetime of Public Service It may be said of Captain Sheehan that he was in public life since he was a schoolboy, for he was only quite a lad when he was appointed Corresponding Secretary of the Kanturk Trade and Labour Council. out of this grew the Irish Democratic Trade and Labour Federation, which was sponsored by the late Michael Davitt. Eventually this movement was merged into the Irish Land and Labour Association which became a very powerful movement indeed for the social betterment of the town and country workers. It was as a candidate of this organisation, of which Captain Sheehan was National President, and the recognised leader for many years, that he was elected to Parliament for Mid-Cork, succeeding the late Dr. Tanner in the representation of this constituency. Writing of Captain Sheehan’s work in the Land and Labour Association the late William O'Brien in his book "An Olive Branch in Ireland" said --- "Their President, Mr. Sheehan M.P., has been the most successful practitioner of my land purchase plans in the County of Cork as well as by far the ablest advocate the Labourers’ Agitation has called into action". In this connection it might be remarked that Captain Sheehan led the campaign that won the Labourers’ Act of 1906 under the provision of which over forty thousand cottages were erected in Ireland in the course of a few years. Captain Sheehan suggested and drafted the several provisions of this Act, and its tremendous success was largely due to his initiative and driving powers. He was a member of the British House of Commons for close upon eighteen years and played a prominent part in many stirring events during that period. He was a ready debater and an eloquent platform speaker. Whilst in Parliament he took his degree as a Barrister-in-Law, and Prize-man in Jurisprudence at University College. He served in France during 1915-16 and his two eldest sons who were officers in the Air Service were both killed in actual battle encounters. Another son who got his commission when barely sixteen years of age was described by Sir Philip Gibbs as the youngest officer in the British Army. He is now a Captain in the Indian Army. Captain Sheehan has had a wide and varied experience as a Journalist. He was Managing Editor of the "Catholic News" and eleven associated newspapers before he was twenty-two years of age. He was the youngest member in the Irish Party on his election. He is the author of "Ireland since Parnell" published in 1921 and was at one time Literary Editor, Leader Writer and Dramatic Critic of the "National News" --- a Sunday newspaper that had a circulation of over a quarter of over million.
Title: Dublin Chronicle
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No