Richard Mulcahy - Definition and Overview

Richard Mulcahy (1886-1971) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and served as IRA Chief of Staff during the War of Independence.

He was a supporter of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922 and became leader of the provisional government's army in the Civil War which followed.

Mulcahy served as Defence Minister from 1923-1924, but was forced to resign after criticism by the Executive Council of his handling of the Army Mutiny. He succeeded W.T. Cosgrave in becoming leader of Fine Gael in 1944.

In 1948 the first Inter-Party Government in the history of the Irish state came to power. Fine Gael, Labour, Clann na Poblachta and Clann na Talmhan joined forces to oust Fianna Fáil from power. Since Fine Gael was the largest party they would provide the candidate for Taoiseach, however, Mulcahy was seen as an unacceptable candidate to the Republican leader of Clann na Poblachta, Seán MacBride. Instead he unselfishly stepped aside in favour of John A. Costello. Mulcahy went on to serve as Minister for Education from 1948-1951 and 1954-1957. Mulcahy retired as Fine Gael leader in 1959.

Richard Mulcahy died in 1971.

Political Career