Seán Caughey ( ga, Seán Mac Eachaidh) (died 18 July 2010) was an

Irish republican Irish republicanism ( ga, poblachtánachas Éireannach) is the political movement for the unity and independence of Ireland under a republic. Irish republicans view British rule in any part of Ireland as inherently illegitimate. The develop ...

, and later a monarchist and activist. Based in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...

, Caughey was the secretary of the local branch of the

Gaelic League (; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it em ...

, He was the founding secretary of the

Northern Ireland Council for Civil Liberties Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ...

, on which he represented the "Six County Election Directorate". In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he campaigned for the release of 166 internees in D-Wing of

Crumlin Road Prison HMP Belfast, also known as Crumlin Road Gaol, is a former prison situated on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since 1996 it is the only remaining Victorian era former prison in Northern Ireland. It is colloquially known as ' ...

. He was then secretary of the Belfast Council for Civil Liberties. Caughey was the most prominent Belfast-based member of

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...

, then a banned organisation in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. Considered a member of the conservative wing of the movement, he was known for his advocacy of a "National Liberation Council" to unite various organisations and form a new governing body for Ireland, and the "

Éire Nua Éire Nua, or "New Ireland", was a proposal supported by the Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin during the 1970s and early 1980s for a federal United Ireland. The proposal was particularly associated with the Dublin-based leadership group centred on ...

" concept.Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie, ''The Provisional IRA'', p. 225 He stood as an independent Republican in the

1964 general election The following elections occurred in 1964. Africa * 1964 Cameroonian parliamentary election * 1964 Central African Republic parliamentary election * 1964 Central African Republic presidential election * 1964 Dahomeyan general election * 1964 Gabo ...

in North Antrim, but took less than 10 percent of the vote. Caughey was elected as a vice-president of

in the early 1960s, but he resigned in June 1965, after the organisation refused to change its policy of

abstentionism Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate i ...

, and would not recognise the government of the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern ...

. Despite this, after the split of 1970, he rejoined the provisional wing of the party, and became an early editor of ''

Republican News Republican News was a longstanding newspaper/magazine published by Sinn Féin. Following the split in physical force Irish republicanism in the late 1960s between the ''Officials'' (Official Sinn Féin — also known as Sinn Féin Gardiner ...

'', but came into conflict with the party leadership. He was removed in 1975 and replaced by Danny Morrison. Sean Caughey was interned in Long Kesh 1971-1972. His wife and 10 children aged 1 to 17 endured extreme hardship during his time in Long Kesh. A life long Republican he later left Provisional Sinn Féin. In his final years, Caughey, under the Irish version of his name, was an advocate of re-establishing the

Irish high kingship High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned an ...

, as well as a "new Catholic Ireland".See hi
Árd Ríocht na hÉireann
an
Pobal na hÉireann
websites, accessed 22 April 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caughey, Sean Year of birth missing 2010 deaths Sinn Féin politicians Politicians from Belfast Irish monarchists