Larry Grogan (Irish:Labhras Ó Gruagáin; 1899–1979) was anIrish republican activist.
Born inDrogheda, Grogan joined theIrish Volunteers at the age of 18,[1] which subsequently became part of the originalIrish Republican Army (IRA). He was active in theIrish War of Independence, then in theIrish Civil War in theanti-treaty IRA.[2] He was imprisoned inMountjoy Prison in 1922,[3] and was subsequently interned in theCurragh Camp, where he kept anautograph book, collecting signatures including that ofMichael Hilliard.[1]
Grogan remained an active republican, and was elected to theIRA Army Council in 1938.[4] In this capacity, he signed the ultimatum to the British government declaring that, if major concessions were not made immediately, aSabotage Campaign would be initiated.[5] On 9 September 1939, he was arrested along with the majority of theIRA Army Council (Matty Tuite, Willy McGuiness, Paedar O'flaherty andPatrick McGrath) at 16 Rathmines Park, Dublin.[6] Grogan was kept atArbour Hill Prison. The following year, he was transferred to the Curragh, and assumed command of the IRA internees. He decided to organise them in an effort to improve conditions, and in December the group burnt down several wooden huts. This led to a clampdown, including solitary confinement and an incident in which soldiers fired on the inmates, killing one;[7] Grogan was subsequently removed from the camp and given a prison term. Some of his time in gaol was spent withBrendan Behan,[8] and the two remained friends, Behan often visiting Grogan after the war.[1]
Grogan was released in March 1945, and immediately endorsed efforts to rebuild the IRA. By the end of the decade, he had been appointedIRA Quartermaster General.[9] He voted to launch theBorder Campaign in 1956,[10] and was arrested and again interned in Mountjoy in January 1957. One year later, he was joined by his son. On this occasion, the internees were led byDáithí Ó Conaill, but older leaders such as Grogan were regularly consulted.[11] While in gaol, he contestedLouth forSinn Féin at the1957 Irish general election, taking 9.6% of the first preference votes.[12]
Released before the end of the decade, Grogan became increasingly associated with the conservative wing of the movement.[13] He stood again in Louth at the1961 Irish general election, managing only 4.5% of the vote,[14] and became a vice-president of Sinn Féin in 1962,[15] serving until 1969. In the split of 1970, Grogan supported theprovisional wing,[16] remaining on Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Vice President ofSinn Féin withRory O'Driscoll (1962–1963?) Seán Caughey (1963?–1965) Joe Clarke (1966–1969) 1962–1969 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vice President ofSinn Féin withJoe Clarke 1970–1971 | Succeeded by |
