Harry Boland | |
---|---|
Teachta Dála | |
In office 14 December 1918 – 2 August 1922 |
|
Constituency |
South Roscommon Mayo South–Roscommon South |
Personal details | |
Born |
Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland |
27 April 1887
Died | 2 August 1922 Dublin, Ireland |
(aged 35)
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Sinn Féin |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Henry James "Harry" Boland (Irish: Enri Ua Beolláin; 27 April 1887 – 2 August 1922) was an Irish republican politician and member of the First Dáil.
Harry Boland was born in Phibsborough, Dublin on 27 April 1887, the son of Irish Republican Brotherhood member James Boland and Kate Woods. He was active in GAA circles in early life, and refereed the 1914 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He joined the IRB at the same time as his older brother Gerry in 1904, following in the footsteps of his father, uncle and probably grandfather. He was educated at the Synge Street CBS but had a personality clash with one of the brothers so he refused to carry on his attendance at the school. He then went to De la Salle College, County Laois, as a novice.
Boland later joined the Irish Volunteers along with Gerry and his younger brother Ned and took an active part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
At the 1918 general election Boland was elected to represent the South Roscommon seat. In line with all the Sinn Féin MPs elected at that election he did not represent his constituents at Westminster, but withdrew to sit in the declared independent Dáil Éireann (the First Dáil) and was named by Éamon de Valera as special envoy to the United States, a role his uncle Jack had played 25 years previously. He left Ireland for the United States of America along with de Valera as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for their cause in America. Boland negotiated a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic to the Soviet Republic through the head of the Soviet Bureau, Ludwig Martens, using some Russian jewellery as collateral. These jewels were transferred to Ireland when he returned.