biography
pronunciation:
[devalayra]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1882–1975)
|
| biography:
| Irish statesman, prime minister (1932–48, 1951–4, 1957–9), and president (1959–73), born in New York City, USA. Brought up on a farm in Co Limerick, he became a teacher in Dublin, and was active in various Republican movements. A commandant in the 1916 rising, he was arrested and narrowly escaped the firing squad. He became an MP in 1917, and leader of Sinn Féin (1917–26). He was elected president of Dáil Eireann, and in 1926 became leader of Fianna Fáil, his newly-formed Republican opposition party, which won the 1932 elections. In spite of his colourful early career, his leadership was moderate, and he opposed extremism and religious intolerance. |
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