James Colbert

This article is about the Irish politician. For the Scottish trader and military officer, see James Colbert (trader). For the American golfer, see Jim Colbert. For the American physician, see James William Colbert Jr.

James Colbert
Teachta Dála
In office August 1923 – January 1933
Constituency	Limerick
Personal details
Born	(1890-01-03)3 January 1890 Castlemahon, County Limerick, Ireland
Died	28 February 1970(1970-02-28) (aged 80) Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Other political affiliations	Sinn Féin
Relatives	Con Colbert (brother) Michael Colbert (cousin)

James Colbert (3 January 1890 – 28 January 1970) was an Irish revolutionary, politician and farmer.

Early life

Born in the townland of Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, he was the son of Michael Colbert, a farmer, and Honora McDermott.^[1] An older brother Con Colbert, was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising.

His family later moved to the village of Athea. In 1901, his family were living in the townland of Templeathea West.^[2]

Political activity

During the Irish War of Independence, Colbert served as Brigade Quartermaster of West Limerick Brigade, IRA and took part in ambushes and operations against British forces while attached to IRA 'Flying Column' (Active Service Unit).^[3] Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, Colbert took part in engagements against National forces in County Limerick and County Kerry. He was arrested in September 1922 but escaped escaped from Tintown, the Curragh, County Kildare on 23 April 1923 and remained 'on the run' until 1924. Colbert later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 6 and 11/24 years service in 1941 at Grade C for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1917 and 30 September 1923. ^[4]

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency at the 1923 general election.^[5] He did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD at the June 1927 general election.^[6] He was re-elected at the September 1927 and 1932 general elections. He lost his seat at the 1933 general election.

Death

Colbert, who was a resident of Bray, County Wicklow, died on 28 January 1970 in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.^[7]

James Colbert and Michael Colbert, who both represented Fianna Fáil for Limerick at different times, were cousins.^[8]

References

1. "General Registrar's Office". IrishGenealogy.ie. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
2. "National Archives: Census of Ireland, 1901". www.census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
3. See Colbert's successful application for a military service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Available online at Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection - http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced. Reference number MSP34REF39023
4. Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, James Colbert, MSP34REF39023. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
5. "James Colbert". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
6. "James Colbert". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
7. "Deaths". Irish Independent. Dublin. 29 January 1970. p. 23.
8. "Brother of 1916 leader dies: Mr. Michael Colbert". Irish Press. Dublin. 9 October 1956. p. 5.