Tom Cullen (c.1891 - 20 June 1926) was an Irish republican active in the Irish revolutionary period.
Tom Cullen | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1891 |
| Died | 20 June 1926 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Active in the Irish revolutionary period |
Biography
editDuring the Irish War of Independence he was one of those who worked very closely with Michael Collins and was known as one of his "best intelligence men."[1] He was assistant director of intelligence (also known as 2nd deputy director of intelligence) which meant he was third-highest ranked in the intelligence department of the IRA. He was also the quartermaster general.[2]
On the same day as the Bloody Sunday (1920) massacre he was one of the gunman involved in the shooting of 18 suspected members of the Cairo gang.[3]
According to Irish Historian Tim Pat Coogan, Cullen and two other intelligencers broke the Dublin Castle spy system.[4]
He sided with the Pro-Treaty forces during the Irish Civil War and joined the Irish National Army, rising to the rank of Major-General.[4]
When the Irish Republican Army Organisation (IRAO) was founded, Cullen was elected organiser.[5]
During Collins’ funeral he led the procession carrying his coffin to Glasnevin Cemetery.[4]
Death
editHe died from asphyxia due to accidental drowning (according to his death certificate), on 20 June 1926[6] and was buried in Rathnew cemetery. Up until the mid 1960s, veterans from Dublin and Wicklow held an annual commemoration in his honor.[4]
Bibliography
editReferences
edit- ^ Neligan, David (1968), The Spy in the Castle, MacGibbon & Kee, London, pg 64, SBN 261.62060.6
- ^ Joseph McKenna (31 January 2011). Guerrilla Warfare in the Irish War of Independence, 1919–1921. McFarland. pp. 73–. ISBN 978-0-7864-8519-2.
- ^ Nigel West (7 August 2017). Encyclopedia of Political Assassinations. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-1-5381-0239-8.
- ^ a b c d Buchanan, Myles (8 October 2016). "Wreath laid at 1916 veteran's grave". Irish Independent. Wicklow People. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ Maryann Gialanella Valiulis (1992). Portrait of a Revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy and the Founding of the Irish Free State. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 202–. ISBN 0-8131-1791-7.
- ^ "Irish Genealogy". civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 2 May 2023.