Richard Corish | |
|---|---|
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| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 1921 – 19 July 1945 | |
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Mayor | |
| In office 1920–1945 | |
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1886 (1886-09-17) Wexford, Ireland |
| Died | 19 July 1945(1945-07-19) (aged 58) |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Other political affiliations | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6, includingBrendan |
| Education | CBS Wexford |
Richard Corish (17 September 1886 – 19 July 1945) was an Irish politician and trade unionist.[1] His involvement in theLabour Party for over 25 years and his contribution to the development ofWexford Town has made Corish one of the key figures in Wexford's long history.
Born in Wexford on 17 September 1886, at 35 William Street, Corish was the eldest child of carpenter Peter Corish and Mary Murphy.[2][3] He was educated by theChristian Brothers in the town on George's Street[4] and left school at fourteen years old, which was not unusual at this time.[5]
On 29 September 1913, at 27 years of age, he married Catherine Bergin; daughter of labourer Daniel Bergin. They had six children, includingBrendan.[4]
He worked as a fitter in the Wexford Engineering foundry the Star Iron Works.[6][7] It was in this job that he witnessed the poor working conditions that industrial workers had to face all over the country. Many people ofIreland felt that this needed to change and so, in 1909,James Larkin formed theIrish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU).[8][9] Many important figures joined the union includingP. T. Daly,James Connolly and eventually Richard Corish himself who became a voice for the Wexford workers.[10]
The Wexford lockout from 1911 to 1912 that ensued because of this union was the event that first brought public attention to Corish in his hometown.[4] Wexford employers countered the ITGWU by locking out their employees. On a conciliation committee, Corish represented the workers of the town and became a leader of this local union.[4] During the lockout, he was arrested, spending a night in jail, for expressing his anger to a recently employed non-union foundry worker.[11]
When visiting Wexford to support the workers, ITGWU leader James Larkin and trusted members James Connolly and P. T. Daly were put up in the Corish household on William Street.[4]
In February 1912, the dispute was resolved with the introduction of the Irish Foundry Workers' Union of which Corish was secretary until 1915. His career as a tradesman however was over as he was blacklisted by all employers. This new union was absorbed by the ITGWU two years later.[2] Corish remained a respected figure in the town, especially by the foundry workers, and continued as secretary in the ITGWU until 1921.[12][13]
He first took his seat in the Wexford Borough Council in January 1913, where he was given the title of 'Alderman'.[11]
In May 1916, Corish was arrested after being suspected of having involvement in theEaster Rising and was imprisoned inStafford, England until June later that year.[5] He was often targeted because of his republican activism, receiving a life-threatening letter in 1920 regarding the killing ofRoyal Irish Constabulary officers.[2]
Corish was first elected toWexford County Council in 1920 and later that year was appointed mayor of the town.[11]
He was anIrish Labour Party representative.[14] However, as the Labour Party in the southern 26 counties, later theIrish Free State, chose not to contest the1921 elections, Corish ran as aSinn Féin candidate and was elected toDáil Éireann for theWexford constituency.[15]
He supported theAnglo-Irish Treaty and voted in favour of it.[2] He also ran as a member of the Labour Party at the1922 general election.[15] His involvement in thetrade union movement and his clear speechgiving skills displayed during a visit fromMichael Collins to Wexford Town that same year were what gave him a fighting chance in this election. He was elected and served in Dáil Éireann until his death in 1945.[2]
He was a public supporter of theGarda Síochána, expressing his disagreement with the reductions in Garda pay and allowances in 1924 and 1929.[2]
Corish was a member of the governing body ofUniversity College Dublin as well as theIrish National Foresters, and was its High Chief Ranger in 1942.[2]
He was a recipient of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Wexford in early 1945[16] and died later that year, after serving as mayor and council member for 25 years. During investigatory surgery for stomach pain, the doctors of Wexford County Hospital realised that his condition was much worse than imagined and he died shortly after. He was 58 years old.[4] After appearing in the Dáil only a few days prior, Corish's death was unexpected.
His death caused aby-election to the Dáil which was won by his son,Brendan Corish, who was later a leader of the Labour Party andTánaiste.[14] He served as mayor up until his retirement in 1982.[17] Another son, Des Corish, later also became mayor of the town. Corish's granddaughter, Helen Corish, was mayor in 1990.[11]
Corish Park was built in his honour in the early 1950s.[4]
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