George Noble Plunkett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Noble Plunkett (1851 – 1948) was an Irish nationalist and father of Joseph Mary Plunkett, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916.
Born in Dublin, his father was the builder Pat Plunkett. Plunkett spent much time abroad, notably studying in Nice, France, and throughout Italy. In 1877 he was created a Papal Count by Pope Leo XIII for his work for the Papacy.
From 1907 to 1916 he was curator of the National Museum in Dublin. His interest in politics likely came mostly through his son, Joseph Mary Plunkett, and his other sons George and John (it is likely that Joseph swore him into the Irish Republican Brotherhood sometime before his death), though it was following the execution of Joseph that he became radicalized. He was expelled from the Royal Dublin Society for his son's role in the Easter Rising.
In 1917 he was elected to Parliament representing Roscommon but refused to take his seat and joined the First Dáil. Following the Anglo–Irish War he joined the anti-treaty side, and continued to support Sinn Féin after the split with Fianna Fáil.
In a 1936 by-election in the Galway constituency, he ran as a joint Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann/Sinn Féin candidate. Losing his deposit, he polled 2,696 votes (a 2.12 percent share of the vote).
He was married to Mary Josephine Cranny and they had seven children. He died at the age of 97 in Ireland.
| Preceded by: Cathal Brugha |
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 1919 |
Succeeded by: Seán T. O'Kelly |
| Preceded by: Newly Created Office |
Minister for Foreign Affairs 1919-1921 |
Succeeded by: Arthur Griffith |
