John Joe McGirl

Who was John Joe McGirl?

John Joe McGirl was an Irish republican, a Sinn Féin politician, and a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army.

Born and raised in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, McGirl became involved with the IRA in the 1930s. In 1946, he was arrested along with Cathal Goulding and ten others and was sentenced to 12 months in prison for IRA membership.

McGirl participated in the IRA Border Campaign. In January 1957, McGirl was tried and convicted at Ballinamore courthouse and imprisoned in Mountjoy Prison.

Although a prisoner, he was elected a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency at the 1957 general election, topping the poll with 7,007 votes. Running on an abstentionist ticket, Sinn Féin won 4 seats at the general election including Eighneachán Ó hAnnluain, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and John Joe Rice. He did not retain his seat at the 1961 general election and his share of the vote was halved and he received only 2,487 votes.

In November 1957, he delivered the oration at the funerals of some of the "Edentubber Martyrs" - four IRA members who were killed when a bomb they were preparing accidentally exploded. In 1962, he served on the committee which founded St. Felim's College, Ballinamore.