Timothy Charles Harrington, Nationalist M.P, Secretary of the Land League, Author of the 'Plan of Campaign', Lord Mayor of Dublin, Journalist, Barrister, Counsel for Parnell, was born outside Castletownbere in 1851. At a very young age his parents were evicted from their small farm and the family moved to a cottage near to this spot, where his father tried to earn a living by mending nets for local fishermen. Timothy received his education at the Old Brandy Hall school, (at the east end of the bridge), and later became a monitor and then an assistant teacher at the school. At 26 he took up a position on the teaching staff in the Dominican Schools in Tralee, and soon afterwards took up journalism by establishing and conducting his own newspaper the 'Werry Sentinel'~ His outspoken views on land issues and public affairs soon attracted the attention of Parnell, who invited him to Dublin and offered him the post of secretary of the Land League. He left his newspaper in the control of his brother Ned, who was also to become a Member of Parliament. The success of the Land League in becoming one of the most powerful organisations in Irish history was largely due to Harrington's ability and endurance. He suffered two terms of imprisonment under the Coercion Acts. During his second term in Mullingar, a General Election was held and he was elected M.P. for Westmeath. Two years later he was elected M.P. for Dublin Harbour Division and he retained his seat until his death in 1910. When the Land League was dissolved and replaced by the National League, Harrington became secretary of the new organisation, and in 1886 was largely responsible for devising the formidable 'Plan of Campaign', which greatly stimulated the Land War. He found time to study law and was called to the Irish Bar in 1887. He subsequently defended many political prisoners in the Irish courts. He had already made a strong stand against the unfair administration of justice in Ireland. In the press and in Parliament he made a powerful plea to establish the innocence of Myles Joyce, executed for the Maarntrasna Murders in Connemara, in a case, which was regarded as a grave miscarriage of justice. He was counsel for Parnell during the Times Commission of 1888‑89. He supported Parnell after the split in the Irish Party over the O'Shea divorce suit, but in 1900 he chaired the meeting that re‑united the party after one of the saddest chapters in Irish history. When Parnell died in England in 1891, it was Harrington who was responsible for bringing him home to Ireland for burial. In 1901 he was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin and held the position for an exceptional period of three years. He took part in the Land Conference of 1902, which resulted in the Wyndham Land Act of 1903. This piece of legislation effectively destroyed forever the power of the landlords and gave the land back to the people who worked it. As Lord Mayor he was invited to attend the coronation of Edward V11 in 1902 but declined as he claimed that it would be inconsistent with his life‑long principals as a nationalist. The following year he declined to welcome the King to Dublin during his Royal Visit, and turned down an offer of knighthood. Timothy C. Harrington was above bribery, and held his honour and character as the most prized possessions of his distinguished life. After his untimely death in 1910, Mr Hutchinson, a former Lord Mayor said of him: "His name will go down to posterity as one of the noblest Irishmen who ever lived'~

 (Information on Harrington for display board near to monument at East End)