MacBride, Seán, 1904-1988

Seán MacBride was born in Paris, France on January 26, 1904, the son of Maud Gonne and Major John MacBride. MacBride first became involved in politics during the 1918 Irish general election in which he was active for Sinn Féin. The following year, he joined the Irish Volunteers, which fought as part of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and took part in the Irish War of Independence. He opposed the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and was imprisoned by the Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War.

MacBride studied law at University College Dublin, worked briefly for Éamon de Valera as his personal secretary, worked as a journalist in Paris and London and, in 1927, became the IRA's Director of Intelligence. In 1929, the Irish section of the League Against Imperialism was formed and MacBride served as its secretary. He launched a new movement, Saor Éire ("Free Ireland"), in 1931. MacBride served as Chief of Staff of the IRA from 1936 to 1937, was the founder and leader of Clann na Poblachta from 1946 to 1965, served as Teachta Dála (TD) from 1947 to 1957, and was Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, the Lenin Peace Prize for 1975–1976, and the UNESCO Silver Medal for Service in 1980.

Seán MacBride died in Dublin on January 15, 1988. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery alongside his mother, and his wife, Catalina "Kid" Bulfin, who died in 1976.