New light on the man who ran Ireland

Activities Wise and Otherwise: The Career of Sir Henry Augustus Robinson 1898-1922

by Brendan O’Donoghue

(Irish Academic Press, €29.99)

J. Anthony Gaughan

In his professional life as an administrator Brendan O’Donoghue, from 1997 to 2003, was one of the most effective and distinguished directors of the National Library, in a class with Thomas Lyster and Richard Hayes.

Among his other senior civil service appointments Brendan O’Donoghue served as secretary-general of the Department of Environment and Local Government from 1990 to 1997. In this well-researched study, he records the career of a predecessor in local government, Sir Henry Augustus Robinson. The research arose from the gift by his wife on retirement of the two volumes of memoirs written by Sir Henry, whom he now sees as a most neglected historical figure.

Born in Dublin on November 20, 1857 Robinson at the age of 17 began his working life in London. He returned to Dublin two years later and after serving on a number of commissions was appointed in 1879 as an inspector to supervise the administration of Poor Relief in Mayo and Galway.

Thereby he began a long relationship with the province which he frequently visited on similar assignments. On the retirement of his father as vice-president (head) of the Local Government Board Robinson was soon afterwards appointed to that position.

Public servant

The author divides his book into two parts. The first part entitled ‘Activities Wise’ is an account of Robinson as an able and assiduous public servant; the second entitled ‘Activities Otherwise’ describes his attempts to influence the evolution of political events from 1898 to 1922.

A consummate administrator, Robinson supervised health and social services for more than 20 years but he deserves to be remembered most of all for his involvement in the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.

He played a major role in planning and drafting this legislation which would democratise Irish local government and provide the framework for local authority activity for more than a century. 

The act destroyed the power of the Ascendancy by transferring the administrative responsibilities of grand juries to elected borough and county councils, while the functions of the Poor Law boards became the responsibility of elected rural district councils, urban district councils and borough corporations.

Thus the act led to nationalist control of local government. It also granted limited female suffrage.

Robinson was very much a man of his time and place. He was a Protestant (Church of Ireland) and a Unionist and he ensured that there were very few senior officials in the LGB who did not share his political and religious affiliations. Under his stewardship also, nepotism was rife in the Local Government Board.

From 1898 onwards he frequently provided advice and information to Dublin Castle calculated to maintain the political status quo. To this end he conducted a voluminous correspondence with Walter Long, leader of the Orange Order’s interests, the Irish Unionist Party and the opposition to Home Rule.

Occasionally in his letters Robinson exhibited a dismissive attitude to his fellow countrymen who happened to be ‘RCs’. Following an attack on his house by Anti-Treatyites in August 1922 he fled to England, where he died on October 16, 1927.  

Marauders

In Memories: Wise and Otherwise, published in 1923, Robinson was bitterly critical of Lloyd George for leaving Ireland “at the mercy of armed marauders who spare neither man, woman or child, who lay waste the country, burn and pillage the houses of the loyalists, rape their women, and shoot unarmed, defenceless men at sight”! In the same context he described the Black and Tans as “a light-hearted, reckless set of men who carried out humorous stunts”!

This is a valuable biography which sheds light on behind-the-scenes politicking and major events from 1898 to 1922, including the Home Rule controversy, the threat of conscription, the release of political prisoners and the lead up to the Anglo-Irish Truce and Treaty. 

Readers of all kinds will find it very enlightening. O’Donoghue presents a comprehensive, ‘warts and all’ profile of Robinson, yet throughout he is more than sympathetic to his subject. In concluding remarks he admits as much and one cannot but agree with him.