Leon Ó Broin

Who was Leon Ó Broin?

Leon Ó Broin was an Irish Civil Servant, writer and playwright, who wrote many plays, stories and historical works in both English and Irish.

He was born in Dublin. He joined Sinn Féin and Fianna Éireann while still at school. He was imprisoned in 1921 and 1922 and afterwards joined the Free State army as a non-combatant. In 1924 he was the first Administrative Officer appointed by the new Free State civil service, where he worked mainly in the Department of Finance. He was Secretary of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs from 1948 to 1967.

Together with Frank Duff he formed the Pillar of Fire Society in 1942, for Catholic-Jewish dialogue, after rumours about the killing of Jews in Europe starting coming through to Ireland. He presented a paper at the first meeting, helped by a Jewish colleague and friend, Laurence Elyan.