Frank Carney | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1927 – 19 October 1932 | |
| Constituency | Donegal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 April 1896 Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland |
| Died | 19 October 1932 (aged 36) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Nora Guinness (m. 1922) |
| Children | 6 |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Battles/wars | Irish War of Independence |
Frank Carney (25 April 1896 – 19 October 1932) was an Irish politician and soldier. He fought in the Irish War of Independence before being elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD).[1]
He was born 25 April 1896 in Abbey Street, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, son of Edward Carney, a fisherman, and Eliza Carney (née McCaffrey).[2]
He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at the outbreak of World War I in 1914, but due to continuous bouts of ill health, he was discharged from the British Army in December 1915. Carney joined the Irish Volunteers and rose rapidly to become Officer Commanding for County Fermanagh in 1918. He was also a prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and was close to his commanding officer, Michael Collins.
In 1920, in the middle of the Irish War of Independence, Carney was appointed Officer Commanding of the 1st Northern Division of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), with the rank of Brigadier. However, just a few weeks later, the British Army were informed that Frank Carney was meeting his IRA Captains in Sweeney's Hotel in Dungloe, County Donegal. They arrested Carney and his Captains, and they were taken to Derry prison. Carney was then sent to Ballykinler Internment camp in County Down where he remained until the signing of the Truce.[3]
A former chief supplies officer of the National Army,[1] he won his seat in the Dáil on his first attempt, when he was elected for the Donegal constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 and 1932 general elections, but died following ill-health later that year,[4] aged 36.[5] No by-election was held for his seat, which remained vacant until the next general election in January 1933.