Harry BolandHarry Boland (Irish: Énrí Ó Beólláin) (27 April 1887 – 31 July 1922) was an Irish nationalist of the early Twentieth century.
Boland was born in Phibsboro, Dublin on 27 April 1887. He was active in GAA circles in early life, and ultimately joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Boland joined the Irish Volunteers along with his brothers and took an active part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
At the 1918 general election, Boland was elected to represent the South Roscommon seat. In line with all the Sinn Féin MPs elected at that election he did not represent his constituents at Westminster but withdrew to sit in the declared independent Dáil Éireann (the First Dáil) and was named by Éamon de Valera as special envoy to the United States.
He left Ireland for the United States of America along with de Valera as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for their cause in America. Boland held the Russian Crown Jewels as collateral for a loan of $25000 from the Irish Republic to the Soviet Republic through the head of the Soviet Bureau, Ludwig Martens. These jewels were transferred to Ireland when he returned.
During the Irish War of Independence Boland operated alongside Michael Collins. Boland opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty along with de Valera, and in the ensuing Irish Civil War, he sided with the Anti-Treaty IRA. In 1922, he was re-elected to the Dáil representing Roscommon South.
During the Battle of Dublin (1922), Harry Boland was shot in a skirmish with soldiers of the Irish Free State at the Skerries Grand Hotel. He died several days later in St Vincent's hospital and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery.
Boland's death affected Collins and may have spurred him towards peace negotiations with De Valera. Soon after, Collins was killed at an ambush at Béal na mBláth, County Cork. The Skerries Grand Hotel later became a secondary school for boys, managed by the De La Salle Brothers. There is a commemorative plaque on site stating that Boland was killed in action there.
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