About Sean Liddy
Lived 1890 – 1965 (aged 74). Sean Liddy was a British and Irish politician and farmer.
Seán Joseph Liddy (; 20 September 1890 – 30 March 1965) was an Irish politician and founder member of the Garda Síochána. On his retirement, he also founded and became the first President of the Garda Pensioners Association (1961–1966), later to be renamed the Garda Síochána Retired Members Association (GSRMA).
One of seven children, Liddy was born as John Liddy in Danganelly, Cooraclare in County Clare on 20 September 1890, the son of farmer John Liddy and Margaret Donnellan. He was married in Dublin on 27 September 1922 to Anna Breen.
Alongside lifelong friend Michael Collins, he was a prominent veteran of the Irish War of Independence. Subsequently, he served as a Teachta Dála (TD), Army Officer and Garda Chief Superintendent.
At the 1921 elections, he was elected unopposed to the Second Dáil as a Sinn Féin TD for the constituency of Clare. He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted in favour of it.
On 21 October 1921, Liddy was court-martialed at the A.O.H Hall in Kilrush having been accused of converting £26,000 (£1,079,847 in 2025) of Clare County Council monies to his own use, however the outcome of this case is unknown.
He was re-elected unopposed as a pro-Treaty Sinn Féin TD at the 1922 general election. He resigned as a TD on 18 December 1922.
He died as a result of a motor accident on 30 March 1965.
The Liddy Medal – the Garda Veterans Injury Award – is named in his memory. The medal is presented to retired Gardaí who were injured in the line of duty while in the force.
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Important facts
People in Sean Liddy's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sean Liddy's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sean Liddy?
Irish politician and policeman
When was Sean Liddy born?
Sean Liddy was born on 20 September 1890 in County Clare.
When did Sean Liddy die?
Sean Liddy died on 30 March 1965 in Dublin.
What was Sean Liddy's occupation?
Sean Liddy was a politician and farmer.
What nationality was Sean Liddy?
Sean Liddy was British and Irish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sean Liddy. https://biography.guide/sean-liddy/
MLA: "Sean Liddy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sean-liddy/.
Chicago: "Sean Liddy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sean-liddy/.
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