Richard Corish

Who was Richard Corish?

Richard Corish was an Irish politician.

Born in Wexford in 1889, Corish was educated by the Christian Brothers in the town. Following his education he became a trade union official.

Richard Corish became Mayor of Wexford in 1920 as an Irish Labour Party representative. However, as the Labour Party in the southern 26 counties, later the Irish Free State, chose not to contest the 1921 elections, Corish ran as a Sinn Féin candidate and was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Wexford constituency. He ran as a member of the Labour Party at the 1922 general election. He served in the Dáil and as Mayor of Wexford until his death in 1945.

His death caused a by-election to the Dáil which was won by his son, Brendan Corish, who was later a leader of the Labour Party and Tánaiste.

Corish was a member of the Irish National Foresters, and was its High Chief Ranger in 1942.