Wikipedia:WikiProject Irish Republican Army/Preparation/Charlie McGlade (Irish republican)

Charlie McGlade (1909-1982) member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), lifelong republican activist. He grew up in the Bone area of North Belfast, during the War of Independence he became a member of Na Fianna Éireann, he joined the IRA in 1927.

In 1931 he was the adjutant of the Belfast IRA 'C' Company in Ardoyne, and helped in the development of the Na Fianna Éireann in the area. He later became the Quartermaster of the Belfast Battalion.

In 1936 the IRA experienced a major setback, when as a result of a tip-off the RUC raided a IRA meeting at the Craobh Ruadh Club at 10, Crown Entry, Three members of the IRA GHQ, the entire staff of the Belfast Battalion along with the commandants of Armagh, Tyrone, Derry and Donegal were arrested. Jim Killeen, Micheal Traynor, Tony McLaverty, Seán McCool, John Adams, Jimmy Steel, Liam Rice and Charlie McGlade were amongst those arrested and charged with Treason-Felony, under the Treason Felony Act, 1848, they received sentences of between two and seven years.

McGlade was released in 1938 from Crumlin Road Jail, and was sent on tour of Britain to organise an English campaign, during this time the IRA in Belfast suffered a further setback when a massive round-up by the RUC resulted in the capture of the entire Belfast Battalion staff, along with many of the Company Commanders and Volunteers. McGlade had just returned from England, when one of these raids resulted in the arrest of his brother

The Northern Command

In 1939 McGlade was the main architect behind the creation of an IRA Northern Command, which covered the six counties and Co Donegal.

The 1970 IRA Split

1970 was on the caretaker executive of Sinn Féin, following the split in the republican movement. He remained as Sinn Féin treasurer until 1981 and was still on the Ard Chomhairle at the time of his death.

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notes: In 1977 Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and Charlie McGlade attend the funeral of Seamus Costello as representatives of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, Costello had been the Chief of Staff of the INLA who was assassinated by the OIRA.

McGlade died on 17th September 1982 aged 72.

Sources

• An Phoblacht 7 September, 2006
• Ruairí Ó Brádaigh - The life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary. Robert W. White ISBN 0-253-34708-4
• The I.R.A. Tim Pat Coogan ISBN 0-00-653155-5