John Crowley (politician)

Crowley received his early education in his home town of Cork. He attended the University of Glasgow and the Royal University of Edinburgh in Scotland where he obtained a medical degree. He practised medicine for 33 years, primarily in Ballycastle, County Mayo.

He was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for the Mayo North constituency at the 1918 general election.[1] In January 1919, Sinn Féin MPs refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled at the Mansion House in Dublin as a revolutionary parliament called Dáil Éireann.[2]

During the Irish War of Independence he also held the rank of Battalion Commandant in the Irish Republican Army and as a consequence he was a high priority target for the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tans. On one occasion he was seized upon in the night at his home by crown forces who beat him and threw him into a lorry bound for Ballina. However, mid-journey he was able to jump out and escape into the night while being shot at. Subsequently, he went on the run as he could not return home. For a time he returned to County Cork.[3]

He was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo North and West constituency at the 1921 elections. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted against it, stating:

"I do so because I believe those who elected me as their representative in 1918 are, each and every one, in their hearts Republican, and I believe, also, that if they were given a free choice between the Republic and this treaty they would, without exception, vote for the Republic [...] For the reason as they now clamouring for the ratification of the treaty it would be said of those of us who would be voting against the Partition bill as is said of us now - that we were not carrying out the wishes of our constituents. I can go down to those who are responsible for my election and say to them that I have kept the pledges I made to them and, if they so desire it, they have back the trust placed in me, and I will give it to them without blemish".[4]

He was re-elected unopposed for the same constituency at the 1922 general election, this time as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin TD, and he did not take his seat in the Dáil. He was elected as a Republican TD for Mayo North constituency at the 1923 general election and once again he did not take his seat. He did not contest the June 1927 general election.[5]

Crowley was a practising Roman Catholic. He married Julia Catherine Larkin in 1903. They had five children, four daughters and one son, Finbar, who died at the age of 3.[3]

Crowley died in 1934 at the age of 64. His burial mass was at St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle and presided over by the Most Rev. Dr. Naughton, Bishop of Killala. In attendance at his funeral were P. J. Ruttledge, the Minister for Justice, then President of Sinn Féin Father Michael O'Flanagan, John J. O'Kelly, and many other politicians in addition to over 1,000 IRA members. He was buried in Doonfeeny Cemetery with his son Finbar.[3]