John Cullinan

Who is John Cullinan?

John Cullinan was Irish Nationalist Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Tipperary South, 1900-18.

John Cullinan was a journalist. He was born at Bansha, son of Charles Cullinan, merchant and farmer, and Catherine, daughter of R. W. Walsh of Tourin, Co. Waterford and educated at St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Lay College. From his early manhood, he became a prominent figure in the nationalist movement in Tipperary, and played a leading part in the Land League and Plan of Campaign movements. These involvements led to him serving five terms of imprisonment, in which he was sentenced to four terms varying from one month to twelve months, and on another occasion was jailed as a ‘suspect’. He was one of those indicted with John Dillon and William O’Brien in connection with the non-payment of rent campaign on the Smith-Barry estate in 1889-90. He narrowly escaped death in Tullamore jail in 1891 from an attack of fever. For many years he was Chairman of the Tipperary Board of Poor Law Guardians. He was also a member of South Tipperary County Council from its establishment in 1899, and of a District Council, and a noted player of hurling and Gaelic football.