De Valera's Cottage

De Valera's Cottage
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De Valera's Cottage is a cottage and National Monument located in County Limerick, Ireland. It was the childhood home of an Irish rebel leader, and later Taoiseach and President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera (1882–1975).

"Up De Valera, the leader of the fight,

Well follow him to battle for the orange, green and white;

And when we meet the English, well show them how to fight,

And well crown De Valera King of Ireland."

The words of this 1917 ballad sum up the feelings many people felt about Eamon de Valera during the early years of the 20th century. His father was Vivion de Valera, a Spanish emigrant who met Elizabeth Coll, a native of Bruree, in New York, where Eamon was born. As a very young child, he was sent back to Bruree to be reared by his grandparents.

As President of Dáil Eireann (1919-1921), he was an outstanding founding father of Irish independence. However, his opposition to the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which gave Ireland its independence, became a key element in the outbreak of civil war in 1922.

De Valera founded the Fianna Fáil party in 1926 and became President of the Executive Council (Prime Minister) from 1932 to 1937. He served as Taoiseach from 1937-48; 1951-54; 1957-59. He was President of the Republic of Ireland from 1959 to 1973.

Eamon de Valera had happy memories of growing up in Bruree and often acknowledged the influence that the locality and its people had upon him. In 1972, he officially opened the De Valera Museum, in the former national school which he attended as a boy. The museum displays a unique collection of de Valera memorabilia, much of it donated by the man himself.

The de Valera family home is also open to the public. Built-in the 19th century as a labourers cottage, this was where the future President of Ireland first heard stories of his native land. It was here too that his political awareness was first aroused.

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De Valera's Cottage is a cottage and National Monument located in County Limerick, Ireland. It was the childhood home of an Irish rebel leader, and later Taoiseach and President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera (1882–1975).

"Up De Valera, the leader of the fight,

Well follow him to battle for the orange, green and white;

And when we meet the English, well show them how to fight,

And well crown De Valera King of Ireland."

The words of this 1917 ballad sum up the feelings many people felt about Eamon de Valera during the early years of the 20th century. His father was Vivion de Valera, a Spanish emigrant who met Elizabeth Coll, a native of Bruree, in New York, where Eamon was born. As a very young child, he was sent back to Bruree to be reared by his grandparents.

As President of Dáil Eireann (1919-1921), he was an outstanding founding father of Irish independence. However, his opposition to the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which gave Ireland its independence, became a key element in the outbreak of civil war in 1922.

De Valera founded the Fianna Fáil party in 1926 and became President of the Executive Council (Prime Minister) from 1932 to 1937. He served as Taoiseach from 1937-48; 1951-54; 1957-59. He was President of the Republic of Ireland from 1959 to 1973.

Eamon de Valera had happy memories of growing up in Bruree and often acknowledged the influence that the locality and its people had upon him. In 1972, he officially opened the De Valera Museum, in the former national school which he attended as a boy. The museum displays a unique collection of de Valera memorabilia, much of it donated by the man himself.

The de Valera family home is also open to the public. Built-in the 19th century as a labourers cottage, this was where the future President of Ireland first heard stories of his native land. It was here too that his political awareness was first aroused.

Suitable for:

History Lovers