Comhairle na dTeachtaí

Comhairle na dTeachtaí (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkoːɾˠl̠ʲə n̪ˠə ˈdʲaxt̪ˠiː]; "Council of Deputies") was an Irish republican parliament established by opponents of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and the resulting Irish Free State, and viewed by republican legitimatists as a successor to the Second Dáil.[1] Members were abstentionist from the Third Dáil established by the pro-Treaty faction. Just as the First Dáil established a parallel Irish Republic in opposition to the British Dublin Castle administration, so Comhairle na dTeachtaí attempted to establish a legitimatist government in opposition to the Provisional Government and Government of the Irish Free State established by the Third Dáil.[2] This legitimatist government, called the Council of State, had Éamon de Valera as president. In 1926 de Valera resigned as president, left the Sinn Féin party and founded Fianna Fáil, which in 1927 entered the Fourth Dáil.[2] Comhairle na dTeachtaí, never more than a symbolic body, was thereby rendered defunct.

Fianna Fáil members spoke at a Comhairle na dTeachtaí meeting in December 1926, whose minutes were discovered in a 1928 raid on Cumann na mBan headquarters and published in 1930 by the Cumann na nGaedheal government.[3] Cumann na nGaedheal TDs quoted from this document that year to cast aspersions on Fianna Fáil's commitment to the Free State constitution.[4] Patrick McGilligan quoted from it in 1932 to oppose Fianna Fáil's proposed withholding of land annuities,[5] and again in 1947 opposing the Sinn Féin Funds Bill.[6]

See also

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References

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  • Gaughan, J. Anthony (1977). Austin Stack: Portrait of a Separatist. Kingdom Books. ISBN 978-0-9506015-0-2.
  • Horgan, John (1997). "The Democratic Option, 1921–32; Comhairle na dTeachtaí". Seán Lemass: The Enigmatic Patriot. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. pp. 37–43. ISBN 978-07171-2079-6.
  • Pyne, Peter (October 1969). "The third Sinn Féin Party, 1923–6 [I: Narrative Account]". Economic and Social Review. 1 (1): 29–50. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  • Pyne, Peter (1970). "The third Sinn Féin Party, 1923–6 [II: Factors contributing to collapse]". Economic and Social Review. 1 (2): 229–257. Retrieved 20 May 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Hopkinson, Michael (4 December 2003). "Civil War and Aftermath, 1922–4". In J. R.Hill (ed.). Ireland, 1921–84. A New History of Ireland. Vol. VII. Oxford University Press. p. 91. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198217527.001.0001. ISBN 9780191615597.
  2. ^ a b Gallagher, Michael (1985). Political Parties in the Republic of Ireland. Manchester University Press. pp. 11–12. ISBN 9780719017971. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. ^ Department of Justice (1930). Two documents "A" and "B" found by the police on the 10th April, 1928, during the course of a search of the premises, 27 Dawson Street, Dublin. Official publications. Vol. P. 202. Dublin: Stationery Office. OCLC 232193280.
  4. ^ "Nomination of President of the Executive Council". Dáil Éireann debates. Oireachtas. 2 April 1930. p. Vol. 34 No. 4 p.3 cc.297–314. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  5. ^ McGilligan, Patrick (28 January 1932). "Land Purchase Annuities". Seanad Éireann (1931 Seanad) debates. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  6. ^ McGilligan, Patrick (24 April 1947). "Sinn Féin Funds Bill, 1947—Committee Stage (Resumed)". Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2020.