1920 January 7th Nominated for Cork Corporation under Sinn Fein & Transport Workers No.1 South In the South Ward area, Charles Coughlan stood as a candidate for the joint Sinn Fein / Transport Workers grouping. He topped the poll with 485 votes, becoming Alderman of that Ward.
The 1920 local elections in Cork were a seismic moment in the Irish War of Independence. They were a direct challenge to British authority, marking the first time the republican movement took democratic control of the city’s administration.
The key events and their impact:
A New Way to Vote: The Introduction of Proportional Representation
The British government introduced Proportional Representation for these elections held on January 15, 1920.
- The Intent: The British hoped PR would “tame” Sinn Féin by allowing smaller, moderate parties to win seats, breaking the Sinn Féin landslide seen in the 1918 General Election.
- The Reality: It backfired completely as in Cork, Sinn Féin formed an alliance with the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union (ITGWU). Together, they “swept the board,” winning 30 of the 56 seats on Cork Corporation.
January 1920: Election and the New Corporation
The elections took place on Thursday 15 January 1920, using the single transferable vote for the first time, under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919. The old seven wards were reorganised into seven borough electoral areas, and the first two candidates elected in each area would be styled “alderman.” (Wikipedia Link)
Charles stood in South No. 1 on the joint Sinn Féin / ITGWU ticket and topped the poll with 485 votes, becoming an Alderman – one of the senior members of the Corporation. Polling day was marred by scenes of violence between supporters of Sinn Féin and ex-servicemen. (Wikipedia Link)
On 30 January 1920, the Corporation elected Tomás MacCurtain as Lord Mayor. At the same meeting, the Council passed a resolution recognising Dáil Éireann as the lawful government of Ireland. (Corkarchives Link) Charles sat in that chamber as this historic declaration was made. From that moment on, every member of the Corporation was marked.
Historic Results
The election fundamentally changed the face of Cork’s leadership:
- Sinn Féin/ITGWU Alliance: 30 seats.
- Nationalists: 16 seats.
- Independent/Ratepayers: 10 seats.
- Turnout: A massive 70%, showing the high stakes for the local population.
The Election of Tomás Mac Curtain
On January 30, 1920, the new council met and elected Tomás Mac Curtain as the first Republican Lord Mayor of Cork.
Read More about Tomás Mac Curtains election and time here https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/feature-articles/when-tomas-maccurtain-was-elected-lord-mayor-of-cork-.html
- Symbolic Act: His first official act was to pass a motion declaring the Council’s allegiance to Dáil Éireann rather than the British Crown.
- The Tricolour: For the first time, the Irish tricolour was raised over Cork City Hall, replacing the Union Jack.
Summary Table: Cork City Council Seats (January 1920)
| Party | Seats Won |
| Sinn Féin – ITGWU | 30 |
| Irish Nationalist | 16 |
| Cork Ratepayers’ Association | 4 |
| Labour Council | 3 |
| Independent / Others | 3 |
If you would like to learn more about the 1920 elections there is an excellent article here https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/mapping-the-irish-revolution/the-victory-of-sinn-fein-the-1920-local-elections/