Frank Drohan (Irish: Proinsias O Druacháin;[1] 13 August 1879 – 5 March 1953) was an Irish revolutionary and politician.[2]

Born in Carrick-on-Suir, he moved to Clonmel with his family aged seven. Aged 12 he left school to work with his father, who was a coachmaker. In 1908 he was inducted into Craobh na hAiséirghe ('branch of the revival') by Frank O'Meara.[3]

He founded a company of the Irish Volunteers in Clonmel in 1913. His unit assembled for the Easter Rising in 1916 but the countermanding order issued by Eoin MacNeill caused his men to disperse. He was arrested afterwards and interned at Frongoch camp. He was officer commanding of the 4th Battalion of the Third Tipperary Brigade (IRA) during the War of Independence.[4]

He was elected unopposed at the 1921 elections for the Waterford–Tipperary East constituency as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) in the 2nd Dáil.[5]

He was personally opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed on 6 December 1921, but the local Sinn Féin branch instructed him to vote in favour; he felt the only honourable course was to submit his resignation, which was read out by the Ceann Comhairle Eoin MacNeill on 5 January 1922,[6] two days before the Dáil voted to accept the Treaty.

He was a member of Clonmel Municipality from 1920 to 1925 and Mayor from 1922–24. When the Clonmel branch of the Gaelic League was re-established in 1932 he was elected president.[3]

Frank Drohan Road is the section of the N24 serving as an inner relief road outside Clonmel.[7]

References

  1. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (19 December 1921). "Prelude – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Monday, 19 Dec 1921 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie.
  2. ^ "Frank Drohan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 30 March 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Ó DRUACHÁIN, Proinsias (1879–1953)". ainm.ie.
  4. ^ "Frank Drohan – Third Tipperary Brigade Memorial".
  5. ^ "Frank Drohan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Treaty Debates". Dáil debates (in Irish). Oireachtas. 5 January 1922. pp. Vol.T No.12 p.3 cc.268–69. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  7. ^ Clonmel Borough Council (2008). "Chapter 7: Transport and Accessibility" (PDF). Clonmel and Environs Development Plan. Clonmel town council. pp. 75–76. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
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