Thomas Condon (senator) explained

Office:Senator
Term Start:18 August 1944
Term End:25 October 1944
Constituency:Industrial and Commercial Panel
Term Start2:27 April 1938
Term End2:7 September 1938
Constituency2:Administrative Panel
Birth Date:16 May 1883
Birth Place:Athy, County Kildare, Ireland
Death Place:Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland
Resting Place:Killegland Cemetery, Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Occupation:Accountant, civil servant
Party:Independent
Spouse:Margaret McGuire
Children:8, including Colm

Thomas Condon (16 May 1883 – 12 September 1963) was an Irish independent politician.

Background and family

Thomas Condon was born in Athy, County Kildare on 16 May 1883, the son of Thomas Condon, a Sergent in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and Helena Cunningham.[1] He was brought up in Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland, he later moved to Clontarf, Dublin where he became a civil servant. He married Margaret McGuire a teacher from County Leitrim in 1912, with whom he had eight children, including Colm Condon, who went on to become a barrister, and Attorney General of Ireland. Thomas and Margaret later moved to Ashbourne, County Meath where they brought up their children. Thomas Condon was purportedly well educated, speaking fluently: Irish, Latin, and French, though little is known of his formal education. He died on 12 September 1963.

1916 Easter Rising

Condon was a member of the Irish Volunteers, who took part in the raid of the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks in Ashbourne, led by Thomas Ashe, in the Easter Rising of 1916, and was subsequently sent to HM Prison Wandsworth on 8 May 1916.[2] It is also probable that he used his position as a British civil servant, to spy on the British administration, prior to the rebellion.

Local politics

Thomas Condon was a Meath County Councillor for Ashbourne, and Cathaoirligh (chair) of Meath County Council from 1934 to 1936.,[3] Thomas Condon was also Eighteen times reelected as the chairman of the Council for County councils from 1936 to 1954.[4]

Irish tourist board

Thomas Condon was appointed as the President of the Irish Tourist board, upon its creation in 1939,[5] and he was later appointed as the chairman of the executive and finance committee of the tourist board [6]

Seanad Éireann

He was a member of Seanad Éireann in 1938 and again in 1944. He was first elected to the 2nd Seanad in April 1938 by the Administrative Panel.[7] He lost his seat in the August 1938 Seanad election. He was re-elected by the Industrial and Commercial Panel at the 1944 Seanad election.[7] He was disqualified from the Seanad on 25 October 1944 by virtue of his membership of the Irish Tourist Board.[8] He was replaced by Frederick Summerfield.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Irish Genealogy. civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie.
  2. Web site: Roll of honour . The Proclamation 1916 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330183631/http://the1916proclamation.ie:80/the-roll-honour/c/ . 30 March 2019.
  3. Web site: Meath Chronicle - Recent Deaths 30-08-08. Meath Chronicle.
  4. 5 August 1954 - Dublin Evening Mail - Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  5. 5 August 1939 - Weekly Irish Times - Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  6. 16 March 1962 - Irish Times - Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  7. Web site: Thomas Condon. Oireachtas Members Database. 9 August 2013.
  8. Web site: Official Report (Seanad Éireann), Volume 29: Vacancy in Seanad – Motion. Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 October 1944. 9 August 2013.
  9. Web site: Official Report (Seanad Éireann), Volume 29: New Senator Takes His Seat. Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 March 1945. 25 August 2013.