James Colbert

Born in the townland of Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, he was the son of Michael Colbert, a farmer, and Honora McDermott.^[1] An older brother Con Colbert, was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising.

His family later moved to the village of Athea. In 1901, his family were living in the townland of Templeathea West.^[2]

During the Irish War of Independence, Colbert served as Brigade Quartermaster of West Limerick Brigade, IRA and took part in ambushes and operations against British forces while attached to IRA 'Flying Column' (Active Service Unit).^[3] Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, Colbert took part in engagements against National forces in County Limerick and County Kerry. He was arrested in September 1922 but escaped from Tintown, the Curragh, County Kildare on 23 April 1923 and remained 'on the run' until 1924. Colbert later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 6 and 11/24 years service in 1941 at Grade C for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1917 and 30 September 1923.^[4]

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency at the 1923 general election.^[5] He did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD at the June 1927 general election.^[6] He was re-elected at the September 1927 and 1932 general elections. He lost his seat at the 1933 general election.

Colbert, who was a resident of Bray, County Wicklow, died on 28 January 1970 in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.^[7]

James Colbert and Michael Colbert, who both represented Fianna Fáil for Limerick at different times, were cousins.^[8]