Sydney Minch Explained

Sydney Minch
Office:Teachta Dála
Term Start:July 1937
Term End:June 1938
Constituency:Carlow–Kildare
Term Start1:February 1932
Term End1:July 1937
Constituency1:Kildare
Nationality:Irish
Birth Date:14 June 1893
Birth Place:Athy, County Kildare, Ireland
Death Place:County Kildare, Ireland
Party:Fine Gael
Otherparty:Cumann na nGaedheal
Spouse:Cynthia Balfe
Children:5
Father:Matthew Minch
Branch:British Army
Rank:Captain
Unit:16th (Irish) Division
Battles:

Sydney Basil Minch (14 June 1893 – 25 March 1970) was an Irish politician, army officer and brewer.[1]

He was born 14 June 1893 in Rockfield, Athy, County Kildare, one of five sons of Matthew Minch, nationalist and anti-Parnellite MP for Kildare South, and Agnes Minch (née Hayden).[1]

He was educated at the Dominican convent, Wicklow; Belvedere College, Dublin and Clongowes Wood College. He fought with the 16th (Irish) Division at the Third Battle of Ypres during World War I, achieving the rank of captain.[2]

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare constituency at the 1932 general election.[3] He was re-elected at the 1933 general election.[4] At the 1937 general election, he was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Carlow–Kildare constituency. He lost his seat at the 1938 general election. A prominent figure in the Blueshirts, he was the first TD to wear a symbolic blue shirt in Dáil Éireann on 27 September 1933, but was opposed to the fascistic tendencies of the organisation.[1]

On leaving politics he became a director of the family malt firm, Minch, Norton & Co.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minch, Sydney Basil. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Coleman. Marie. 29 September 2022.
  2. Web site: Eye on the past – The Eucharistic Congress of 1932. 3 July 2008. 28 January 2009.
  3. Web site: Sydney Minch. Oireachtas Members Database. 28 January 2009.
  4. Web site: Sydney Minch. ElectionsIreland.org. 28 January 2009.