Richard Corish (17 September 1886 – 19 July 1945) was an Irish politician and trade unionist. His involvement in the Labour Party for over 25 years and his contribution to the development of Wexford Town has made Corish one of the key figures in Wexford's long history.
Early and personal life
Born in Wexford on 17 September 1886, at 35 William Street, Corish was the eldest child of carpenter Peter Corish and Mary Murphy. He was educated by the Christian Brothers in the town on George's Street
On 29 September 1913, at 27 years of age, he married Catherine Bergin; daughter of labourer Daniel Bergin. They had six children, including Brendan. It was in this job that he witnessed the poor working conditions that industrial workers had to face all over the country. Many people of Ireland felt that this needed to change and so, in 1909, James Larkin formed the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU). Many important figures joined the union including P. T. Daly, James Connolly and eventually Richard Corish himself who became a voice for the Wexford workers.
The Wexford lockout from 1911 to 1912 that ensued because of this union was the event that first brought public attention to Corish in his hometown. During the lockout, he was arrested, spending a night in jail, for expressing his anger to a recently employed non-union foundry worker.
When visiting Wexford to support the workers, ITGWU leader James Larkin and trusted members James Connolly and P. T. Daly were put up in the Corish household on William Street. Corish remained a respected figure in the town, especially by the foundry workers, and continued as secretary in the ITGWU until 1921.
He first took his seat in the Wexford Borough Council in January 1913, where he was given the title of 'Alderman'.
Corish was first elected to Wexford County Council in 1920 and later that year was appointed mayor of the town. However, as the Labour Party in the southern 26 counties, later the Irish Free State, chose not to contest the 1921 elections, Corish ran as a Sinn Féin candidate and was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Wexford constituency.
He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted in favour of it. and died later that year, after serving as mayor and council member for 25 years. During investigatory surgery for stomach pain, the doctors of Wexford County Hospital realised that his condition was much worse than imagined and he died shortly after. He was 58 years old. After appearing in the Dáil only a few days prior, Corish's death was unexpected.
His death caused a by-election to the Dáil which was won by his son, Brendan Corish, who was later a leader of the Labour Party and Tánaiste. Another son, Des Corish, later also became mayor of the town. Corish's granddaughter, Helen Corish, was mayor in 1990.