James Coburn

Who was James Coburn?

James Coburn, also known as "The Juker" Coburn, was an Irish politician. A builders foreman, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as an National League Party Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election but became an independent TD in July 1931 following the disbandment of the National League Party. He was re-elected as an independent TD at the 1932 and 1933 general elections. At the 1937 general election he was re-elected as a Fine Gael TD for Louth. He was re-elected at each general election until the 1951 general election. His background as a builder led to Fianna Fáil supporters disrupting Coburn's rallies at election time by singing "A mason once again" to the tune of the Fine Gael anthem A Nation Once Again. He died during the 14th Dáil and the subsequent by-election on 3 March 1954 was won by his son George Coburn.