Richard Beamish

Richard Henrik Beamish (16 June 1861 – 23 February 1938) was an Irish politician, brewer and company director.

Early and personal life He was born in Glounthaune, County Cork, the eldest child of Richard Pigott Beamish and his wife Hulda Elizabeth Constance. Educated at Haileybury, Beamish studied agriculture in Sweden (1881–1887).

Business Beamish probably joined the Beamish and Crawford brewery shortly after his return to Ireland, and in 1899 he became the acting partner of the Beamish family. Beamish became chairman and managing director (1901–1930); during his stewardship the firm acquired the Dungarvan brewery (1906) and Allman, Dowden & Co., Bandon (1914), and entered a joint venture with John Walsh, MP, manufacturing aerated waters (1914). He was elected under the label of Cork Progressive Association, a group associated with the Business and Professional Group. He aligned himself with the Cumann na nGaedheal party, with his election posters featuring the line 'In Harmony with Cumann na nGaedheal'. He did not contest the June 1927 general election.

Though largely supporting the Cumann na nGaedheal government, he rarely spoke in the Dáil. Bills with which he concerned himself included those on the courts of justice, intoxicating liquor, and local government (1923–1925). He advocated a central road board responsible for all road construction in the state; was highly critical of the low standard of education in the agricultural colleges; and, as a member of the Dáil committee on wireless broadcasting (1924), totally opposed any project involving public expenditure on broadcasting as a medium of entertainment.

In 1924, he spoke against the conduct of the Cork Corporation during a public inquiry, held in the Cork Courthouse. He was supported by the Cork Progressive Association, who had successfully lobbied the government to instigate the inquiry. He was critical of then Lord Mayor, Seán French, who was present at the inquiry. He was a critic of the city council, seeing it dissolved in 1923; though elected to the reconstituted council (June 1930), he did not attend any meetings from December 1931 onwards.

He was Sheriff of Cork City in 1907 and 1911. The Richard Beamish Cricket Grounds (more commonly known as The Mardyke) is named after him.