Niall Harrington

Niall Charles Harrington (23 January 1901 – 18 September 1981), born in Dublin, was an Irish soldier, officer, military intelligence director, writer and broadcaster, campaigner for the memory of Charles Stuart Parnell and a union representative. His military career spanned the period from the War of Independence through to his retirement as a senior intelligence officer in 1959. During this time he wrote and narrated various historical features for different media. His Civil War memoirs were developed into a book, Kerry Landing, which was extended and published posthumously.

Early life He was born at 6 Cavendish Row, Dublin, home of his grandfather Dr. Edward O'Neill. His parents were Elizabeth O'Neill, daughter of Dr.O'Neill, and Timothy Charles Harrington, a Nationalist MP, barrister-at-law and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1901 to 1903. When he was 9 his father died so he moved to Nelson Street [now Ashe Street], Tralee, County Kerry to live with his uncle Dan, Timothy Harrington's brother. Dan Harrington was the printer and publisher of The Kerry Sentinel, a weekly paper which had been founded by Timothy Harrington in 1877. He attended the Christian Brothers' school in Edward Street, Tralee, and later Rockwell College in County Tipperary.

Military career After being apprenticed in 1918 to James Barry's pharmacy in Boyle, County Roscommon, Harrington joined the IRA and the IRB. He became First lieutenant in A Company, 1st (Boyle) Battalion, North Roscommon Brigade IRA. A beating and threats from Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) members encouraged his departure from the area. He was ordered to Dublin to deliver a dispatch and remained there on advice after a secret meeting with Cathal Brugha and Austin Stack, and later a note from Michael Collins. He lived at different addresses and did different jobs before transferring to C Company, 2nd Battalion Dublin Brigade IRA. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty he became a private in the Medical Corps of the Irish Army in March 1922, reprising his pharmacy practice. He was on duty in Dublin when the Provisional Government launched an assault against anti-Treaty IRA 'Irregulars' who had captured the Four Courts. Allowed a posting aboard the Lady Wicklow, he transferred to the Dublin Guard en route. The ship landed at Fenit, County Kerry, on 2 August 1922 as part of an attempt to overcome the anti-Treaty forces controlling the county. His intimate knowledge of the area was utilised in the planning and execution of the landing and the capture of Fenit and Tralee. He received a field-promotion to 2nd Lieutenant for bravery. In 1923 he became captain and gained experience through the ranks in different roles and counties. He graduated from the Military College's Infantry School in 1931, and the Command and Staff School in 1939 becoming commandant, in roles attached to military archives and intelligence. His final military post was as Deputy Director of Intelligence at General Headquarters from 1952 to 1959, in the rank of lieutenant colonel.

This conclusion was supported by other accounts, some only released in the 21st century.

Legacy The collection of Niall Harrington's papers relating to his career, and remaining papers of his father Timothy, were placed with the National Library of Ireland in 2001 and 2002 by his daughter, Nuala Jordan.