Séumas Robinson
(06/01/1890 - 08/12/1961)
Séumas Robinson is a Irish politician and republican who was in the Kimmage Garrison during the 1916 rising.
Séumas Robinson, born James Robinson on 6 January 1890 in Belfast, emerged as a prominent figure in Irish Republicanism during a pivotal period in Ireland’s history. Hailing from a family with a deep-rooted Irish Republican and Fenian background, Robinson’s early years were marked by a familial connection to the Irish struggle. His grandfather, James Robinson, had been a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, fleeing to France following the Fenian Rising of 1867.
Educated in Belfast and later in Glasgow after his family’s relocation in 1903, Séumas became involved in Irish nationalist circles. His journey into the heart of the struggle began with his participation in the 1916 Easter Rising. Alongside his brother Joseph, Robinson joined the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Glasgow, later integrating into the Kimmage Garrison in Dublin.
During the Easter Rising, Robinson’s leadership qualities shone through as he led his section through Sackville Street, facing constant gunfire. Despite a death sentence initially handed down, Robinson’s life was spared, and he spent time in Frongach internment camp before his release on Christmas Eve 1916.
Robinson’s commitment to the cause deepened during the Irish War of Independence. He relocated to Tipperary in 1917, responding to a call from Eamon Uí Dubhir. Elected commanding officer of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade in 1918, he played a pivotal role in the Soloheadbeg ambush, considered the first engagement of the war.
A staunch opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Robinson found himself at odds with the changing political landscape during the Irish Civil War. Despite his critical stance on the Treaty, he participated in the conflict but was vocal about the lack of coherent strategy among the anti-Treaty forces.
Transitioning into politics, Robinson was elected as a Sinn Féin TD for Waterford–Tipperary East in the 1921 general election. Later, as a founding member of Fianna Fáil, he continued his political journey, serving in Seanad Éireann from 1928 to 1936.
In his later life, Séumas Robinson remained intricately connected to Ireland’s struggle for independence. Appointed to the Bureau of Military History in 1947, he played a pivotal role in preserving the legacy of the independence movement. He passed away on 8 December 1961, leaving a lasting imprint on Irish Republicanism and the pursuit of an emancipated Ireland. Séumas Robinson’s life stands testament to the indomitable spirit of those who ardently fought for Ireland’s freedom during a transformative era.
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