Richard Gogan | |
|---|---|
 Press photo, circa 1960. | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 1954 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1899-11-29)29 November 1899 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 28 April 1982(1982-04-28) (aged 82) |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Nickname | 'Dick' |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1913–1923 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | B Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
Richard P. Gogan (29 November 1899 – 28 April 1982) was a member of theIrish Volunteers who fought in the 1916Easter Rising.[1] In later life, he became aFianna Fáil politician.[2]
He was the son of William J. Gogan and was married to Kitty Gogan.[3] He was one of the Guard of Honour at the funeral ofJeremiah O'Donovan Rossa in August 1915, and was present whenPatrick Pearse gave his famous speech at the graveside.[4]
Gogan joined the Irish Volunteers in November 1913.[4] He was a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade from 1914 commanded byEdward Daly.[5] During Easter Week 1916, he saw action atCabra and at theGeneral Post Office (GPO).[6] On Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, he was part of a unit that were tasked to take control of three bridges intoDublin, at theNorth Circular Road, Cabra Road and Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsboro Road.[5] They came under machine gun and artillery fire from nearby British military units, and an artillery piece sprayed their barricade with shrapnel[7] after which they escaped and took shelter near Ben Eavin House inGlasnevin.[8] At some point in the early hours of 25 April 1916, he left along with Jack Price, PJ Corless and his brother Vincent.[8]
The next report of his participation in the Rising is at the GPO inO'Connell Street.[9] Early in the morning of Friday 28 April, he volunteered as a stretcher-bearer to carry the woundedJames Connolly out of the GPO, which was by then on fire. Under heavy machine-gun fire, he and two others (Sean Price and Paddy Ryan) carried Connolly to an Irish Volunteer position in a mineral water factory on Henry Place.[10]
Prior to the Rising, there is a report of Gogan working in a bomb factory at a house called 'Cluny'[11] inClontarf which was used as an Irish Volunteers' munitions base.[12]
During theIrish War of Independence, Gogan took part in arms raids, armed street patrols, dispatch work and had custody of an arms dump at his father's business premises at 184 Parnell Street, Dublin.[13] Taking the anti Treaty side in the Civil War, he took part in the occupation and defence of buildings during theBattle of Dublin. He was captured in late January 1923 by National forces and interned in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin. He signed the 'form' pledging not to take up arms against the Free State for early release. Gogan reported back for duty but had no further activity. His father's business premises at 184 Parnell Street, Dublin was raided by theGarda Síochána as late as 1927. Gogan later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 6 and 103/500 years service in 1943 at Grade E for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1916 and 30 September 1923.[14]
He was a founding member of Fianna Fáil.[4] Gogan was first elected toDáil Éireann as a Fianna FáilTeachta Dála (TD) for theDublin North-West constituency at the1954 general election, having previously unsuccessfully contested the1948 and1951 general elections.[15] He held his seat at every subsequent election until losing at the1977 general election in the newDublin Cabra constituency.
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