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Maurice Healy (3 January 1859 – 9 November 1923) was anIrish nationalist politician, lawyer and member of parliament (MP). As a member of theIrish Parliamentary Party, he was returned to theHouse of Commons of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland four times between 1885 and 1918.
He was one of twins, the third son born to Maurice, a Poor Law Union clerk, and Eliza (née Sullivan) Healy, inBantry. His mother died during the birth. As he grew up he became very close to his elder brotherTim Healy. It is said that the nurse placed Maurice in the young Tim's arms and said, "This little boy has no mother now and you will have to be a mother to him". Both brothers married Sullivans who were first cousins to their husbands and to each other.[1] The orphaned children were effectively raised by their maternal grandmother, Jane Sullivan. The family moved toLismore, where he was educated at the localChristian Brothers school.[citation needed]
Admitted as a solicitor in 1882, he practised as such and was returned to parliament four times, first as a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party forCork city from 1885 to 1900, in which year standing as aHealyite nationalist he was defeated byWilliam O'Brien in a bitter campaign. He was returned again for Cork City in May 1909 to January 1910.[citation needed]
In 1910, forNorth East Cork, this time as a supporter and member of William O'Brien'sAll-for-Ireland Party (AFIL). From theDecember 1910 general election until theDecember 1918 general election he again represented Cork City. He was generally considered one of the finest Irish lawyers of his generation, and exceptionally conscientious in his handling of a case.[citation needed]
His force in parliament was land law. He was a close confidant of his brother and although more retiring and stolid than his better-known elder brother, Tim, he was considered the more intelligent and often acted as a counterbalance to his brother's emotionality. On the outbreak ofWorld War I in 1914 a son of each enlisted in one of theIrish Divisions.
His uncle,Timothy Daniel Sullivan, was also a member of parliament, as was his oldest brother,Thomas Joseph Healy and father-in-lawA. M. Sullivan. His son, also calledMaurice (1887–1943), educated atClongowes Wood College stood unsuccessfully as an AFIL candidate for WestWaterford in December 1910, was a regular contributor (including much satirical verse) to the O'BrieniteCork Free Press.[citation needed]
Maurice (junior) moved to England after the founding of theIrish Free State where he was both a successful lawyer, and a broadcaster for theBBC during the early years ofWorld War II. He wrote the well-known legal memoirThe Old Munster Circuit and the popularStay Me With Flagons: A Book about Wine and Other Things.[citation needed]
Maurice (senior) died at his residence, Ballintemple, Cork, on 9 November 1923 and was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery.[citation needed]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCork City 1885–1900 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCork City 1909–1910 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forNorth East Cork March–December 1910 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCork City 1910–1918 | Succeeded by |
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