1. Bartholomew O'Connor was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician.
23 Facts About Batt O'Connor
1. 2.
Batt O'Connor was a Teachta Dala for Dublin County from 1924 to 1935.
3.
Batt O'Connor was born 4 July 1870 in Brosna, County Kerry, the son of mason Dan O'Connor and Ellen Curtin.
4.
On his return to Ireland, Batt O'Connor moved to Dublin, where he soon established himself as a "speculative builder" constructing houses in Anglesea Road, Dolphins Barn, Eglington Road, and Donnybrook.
5.
Batt O'Connor built the houses on Brendan Road, and gave the street its name, eventually getting married and settling in No 1 Brendan Road.
6.
Batt O'Connor joined the Gaelic League in 1900, through which he came into contact with many of the future leaders of the independence movement, including Tom Clarke and Sean Mac Diarmada.
7.
Batt O'Connor was sworn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909.
8.
Batt O'Connor enrolled in the Irish Volunteers in 1913, the same night as Eamon de Valera.
9.
Batt O'Connor was sent to Kilmainham Gaol, then to Richmond Barracks, Wandsworth Prison and finally to Frongoch internment camp, in North Wales.
10.
On his release in September 1916, Batt O'Connor re-established his business and took up his political activities.
11.
Batt O'Connor reconnected with members of the Keating Branch of the Gaelic League at 46 Parnell Square and took part in the re-organising of the fragmented IRB.
12.
Batt O'Connor canvassed for by-elections in Kilkenny and Armagh on behalf of Sinn Fein candidates W T Cosgrave and Patrick McCartan.
13.
Batt O'Connor was involved with the revolutionary Sinn Fein party during the time of the First Dail, handling money and hiding documents for Michael Collins.
14.
Batt O'Connor purchased 76 Harcourt Street for Michael Collins, following a raid on the Sinn Fein Office at No 6.
15.
In 5 Mespil Road, Collins' headquarters for over 15 months during the Irish War of Independence, Batt O'Connor fitted a small cupboard in the woodwork beneath the kitchen stairs on the ground floor.
16.
Batt O'Connor was one of the shareholders of the National Land Bank which was set up in March 1920 at 68 Lower Leeson Street.
17.
Batt O'Connor was instrumental in convincing Collins that he had to be part of the Irish team to be sent to London for the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations in autumn 1921.
18.
Batt O'Connor took the pro-Treaty side during the subsequent split over the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
19.
Ironically, it was Batt O'Connor that had built the false wall in Nell Humphreys' house in Ballsbridge behind which IRA Assistant Chief of Staff Ernie O'Malley found refuge.
20.
Batt O'Connor was an unsuccessful candidate for Dail Eireann at the 1923 general election, in the Dublin County constituency.
21.
Batt O'Connor retained his seat at the next four general elections, joining Fine Gael when Cumann na nGaedheal merged in 1933 with the National Centre Party and the Blueshirts.
22.
Batt O'Connor served as a Trustee of Cumann na nGaedheal.
23.
Batt O'Connor wrote a short memoir, "With Michael Collins In The Fight For Irish Independence," which was published in London by Peter Davies in 1929.