John Beirne T.D. : Short Biography

John Beirne, Jnr (1893–1967) of Lugnashammer, was a merchant in Croghan and an Irish Clann na Talmhan politician for more than 21 years. He was a member of Roscommon County Council, and its subsidiary bodies, from 1942 to 1967, and was Chairman of the Council, for most of that period.  John Beirne Jr. was born in Ardmore, Croghan on 1 April 1893 and was known locally as Johnny Beirne.

His father, John Beirne Sr* (b.1860) was a master carpenter and shopkeeper. He had a coach-building workshop in Croghan in the early 1900s. They were cousins of Beirne of Cavetown and Lane of Boher (Knockacorha). His parents married circa 1888. His mother, Bridget, widow of John Beirne, and mother of John Beirne TD, Croghan, died 20 Sept. 1949. 

John Beirne Jr. worked in Belfast before setting up his own business in his native village. He was also an extensive farmer and highly regarded in the area. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Clann na Talmhan Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon constituency in 1943 and represented the constituency until 1964.

He married Mary Anne Brennan (1893-1974) of Finnor; daughter of Patrick Brennan of Finnor & Mary Anne Brennan of Fortview. Her uncle was James Brennan D.C. (1869– 1948/9) of Finnor.

Johnny & Mary Anne Beirne had one daughter, Dr. Aileen Beirne (conferred 1978) and four sons; Seán Beirne of Hartley House, Carrick-on-Shannon; Joseph Beirne aka Josie (m. Maeve Foley of Dungannon) Dublin ; Patrick Beirne aka Patsy of Croghan and Frank Beirne of Croghan.

John Beirne Jr died died on 23 October 1967. Mrs. Mary Anne Beirne died 6 August, 1974. She left an estate valued for £8,099, some of which was left for charitable purposes. The family are interred at Estersnow Cemetery.

*NOTE: Although Wikipedia states that John Jr's father was also a TD, family obituaries in the Leitrim Observer confirm this to be in error. John Beirne TD was the one man i.e. John Beirne Jr.