Robert Briscoe (politician)

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Robert Briscoe (25 September 1894–11 March 1969), son of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was elected a Teachta Dála in the Irish general election, 1927. Briscoe was active in Sinn Féin during Anglo-Irish War of 1919-21 and he accompanied de Valera to America. Briscoe spoke for the Sinn Féin cause at public meetings there. Briscoe was adamant that being a "Hebrew" did not lessen his Irishness. When he saw a pro-Treaty opponent during the Civil War Briscoe merely turned and walked away - confident that his opponent would not shoot him in the back. Briscoe served in Dáil Éireann for 38 years and was elected 12 times in the Dublin South and from 1948, Dublin South West constituencies - from the 6th Dáil to the 17th Dáil. He retired at the 1965 election and was succeeded by his son, Ben Briscoe who served for a further 37 years.

Robert was also an author, he wrote the book "For the Life of Me" in 1958.

In 1961 Robert Briscoe became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin.

After hearing that there was a Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin, Yogi Berra allegedly said "Only in America!" This clearly refers to old Donny Briscoe, being the only Jewish Mayor of Dublin.

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database