Cork Civic Party Explained

The Civic Party was a pro-business political party in Cork city in Ireland from 1945 to 1966. It was a continuation of the Business Party of the 1930s, supported by the chamber of commerce, and also attracted three outgoing Fine Gael councillors among nine candidates in the 1945 elections to the 21-member Cork Corporation (now Cork City Council). Two of those three were successful, as were three others, including Liam de Róiste.^[1] The party had links to the Knights of Columbanus.^[2]

As Dáil Éireann parties became more prominent in local politics from the 1950s, the Civic Party went into a slow decline, although Valentine Jago, a Methodist businessman, served as Lord Mayor of Cork for the 1957–1958 civic year.^[3] The party secured three councillors from 11 candidates at the 1950 elections, two from seven in 1955, and one from eight in 1960. In 1963, the electoral law was changed to empower the Minister for Local Government to divide Cork city into multiple local electoral areas.^{[4] [5]} This was done in 1965, with areas of five and six seats instead of one 21-seat area.^[6] This disadvantaged smaller parties, and in 1966 the Civic Party dissolved itself.^[7] Jago later joined Fianna Fáil.^[8]

References

• Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society . 1972 . 124–133 . Local Elections in Cork City (1929-1967) . 15 September 2018 . John . Moran.

Footnotes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Biographical History. IE CCCA/U271: Liam de Róiste papers. Cork City and County Archives. 2. 19 December 2013.
2. Web site: De Róiste, Liam (1882–1959). Cló Iar-Chonnacht. Ainm.ie. Fiontar. Irish. 19 December 2013 . Bhuaigh sé suíochán i mBardas Chorcaí 1945 mar dhuine den Civic Party, dream a raibh baint ag Ridirí Cholumbáin leis..
3. Book: Bhreatnach, Aoife. Becoming conspicuous: Irish travellers, society and the state, 1922-70. 19 December 2013. 2006. University College Dublin Press. 9781904558613. 55.
4. Web site: Committee on Finance. - Electoral Bill, 1962: Committee Stage.. Blaney. Neil. 27 March 1963. Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil). Vol.201 No.4 p.48 c.604. Let us have a look at the situation in Cork city when they fought a local election as one constituency with everybody up in a free-for all. ... We had 72 names on the ballot paper, out of which 21 were to be selected. . 3 July 2023.
5. 1963. 19. Electoral Act 1963 . 87. Electoral areas in certain county and other borough. 12 July 1963. 18 December 2013.
6. 1965. si. 249 . . Cork County Borough Electoral Areas Order 1965. 13 December 1965. 17 December 2013.
7. News: The Irish Times . 4 February 1966 . 8 . Cork Civic Party ceases.
8. Web site: R. Valentine Jago. Members Database 1919 - 2013. Oireachtas. 19 December 2013.