Michael Joyce (MP)

Michael Joyce (4 September 1851 – 9 January, 1941) was an Irish politician who twice served as Mayor of Limerick and was the Member of Parliament for the Limerick constituency from 1900 until 1918.^[1]

Early life

Joyce was born at Merchant's Quay in Limerick in 1851. His father was a river pilot on the Shannon Estuary approach to the port of Limerick.^[2] He was educated by the Christian Brothers, attending three of their schools, including CBS Sexton Street. At the age of fourteen, Joyce left Limerick to serve as a seaman. During his time at sea, he survived four separate shipwrecks. Following his return to Limerick in the early 1870s, he became a pilot for Limerick Harbour Commissioners.^[1]

Political career

A supporter of Home Rule for Ireland, Joyce, along with a local priest Robert Ambrose, established the local Limerick branch, the Sarsfield branch, of the Irish National League in 1882.^[2][3]

In 1899, Joyce was elected to Limerick Corporation and stood for election to Parliament at the 1900 general election as a candidate for the Irish Parliamentary Party, defeating the Unionist candidate Francis Kearney by 2521 votes to 474.^[1] Joyce served as an MP until 1918. Although intending to run in the 1918 general election, he eventually decided not to seek re-election and was succeeded by the Sinn Féin candidate Michael Colivet, who was elected unopposed.^[1]

Joyce was elected Mayor of Limerick in January 1905, serving two successive terms until January 1907.^[3]

While travelling to London aboard the RMS Leinster in October 1918, Joyce survived his fifth maritime disaster, when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat in the Irish Sea.^[1][4]

Joyce became President of the U.K. Pilots' Association in 1910. He was also a founder member of the rugby club Garryowen in 1884, and played in the first fifteen for both that club and Limerick County.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Brian Donnelly (1990). "Michael Joyce: Square Rigger, Shannon Pilot and M.P.". Old Limerick Journal (27): 42–44. http://www.limerick.ie/media/Media,4050,en.pdf. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Ciarán Ó Gríofa. "Michael Joyce - Maritime Mayor" (pdf). http://askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/libraries/limerick-city-library/reading-room/pages-in-history/remembering-limerick-michael-joyce-maritime-mayor-full-article.pdf. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Potter, Matthew (2007). First Citizens of the Treaty City The Mayors and Mayoralty of Limerick 1197 - 2007. Limerick City Council. pp. 158–160. ISBN 0-905700-15-5. 
4. ^ "Dun Laoghaire remembers the Leinster". Dublin People. 20 June 2008. http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/665/56/. Retrieved 28 March 2010. 

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Michael Joyce

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Francis Arthur O'Keefe	Member of Parliament for Limerick City 1900 – 1918	Succeeded by Michael Colivet

Persondata
Name	Joyce, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 September 1851
Place of birth
Date of death	1941
Place of death