Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Harrington, Timothy Charles
HARRINGTON, TIMOTHY CHARLES (1851–1910), Irish politician, born in 1851 at Castletownbere, co. Cork, was son of Denis Harrington by his wife Eileen O'Sullivan. Educated at the local national school, he subsequently became an assistant teacher there. At twenty-six he joined the teaching staff of the Dominican School, Holy Cross, Tralee, co. Kerry, but withdrew almost immediately and engaged in journalism. With his brother Edward he founded the 'Kerry Sentinel' in 1877, and edited it during the land agitation in the south. He finally handed it over to his brother. He found time to enter the law school of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1884, but did not graduate. He was in full sympathy with the nationalist movement, and at the invitation of Mr. Parnell, who recognised his organising power, he accepted in 1882 the post of secretary of the Land League. The success of the organisation was largely due to Harrington's ability and endurance. He suffered two terms of imprisonment under Coercion Acts, once in 1881 for three months, again in 1883 for two months. When the Land League was dissolved and replaced by the National League in 1882 Harrington became secretary of the new organisation, and in 1886 was mainly responsible for devising the formidable 'Plan of Campaign' which greatly stimulated the land war (cf. Davitt's Fall of Feudalism in Ireland, pp. 514 sq.). In 1883, while in prison in Mullingar under the Coercion Acts, he was returned unopposed as nationalist M.P. for co. Westmeath. In 1885 he was elected M.P. for the Harbour division of Dublin, and retained the seat till his death. In 1887 he was called to the Irish bar, and during that and subsequent years he defended many of the political prisoners in the Irish courts. He had already made a strong stand in the press against what he believed was the unfair administration of justice in Ireland, and was specially prominent in asserting the innocence of Miles Joyce, executed for the Maamtrasna murders in 1885. He attended the trial and published in pamphlet form 'The Maamtrasna Massacres, Impeachment of the Trials' (1885; reprinted from the 'Freeman's Journal'). Much feeling was aroused by his denunciation. His most important brief was that of counsel for Parnell in the Parnell commission in 1888-9 at the law courts in Dublin. His knowledge of the country was of the greatest service to Parnell's leading counsel, Sir Charles Russell. While the commission was sitting he was fined 500l. for contempt of court for an article which appeared in the 'Kerry Sentinel.' When the split in the Irish party took place owing to Parnell's condemnation in the divorce suit, Harrington broke away from the majority and supported Parnell, with whom his relations were always personally close. On Parnell's death in 1891 he served under Mr. John Redmond, Parnell's successor. In 1901, being then a town councillor of Dublin, he was elected lord mayor of Dublin, and held the office for the exceptional period of three years. His conduct in the chair was eulogised by men of all parties. While lord mayor he took part in the land conference of 1902, which resulted in the Wyndham Land Act of 1903. It was largely due to his efforts that the disunited Irish party was re-constituted under Mr. Redmond in 1900. He filled many offices in Dublin with honour and dignity, and was appointed secretary of the Dublin committee under the Old Age Pensions Act of 1909. His health was at this time precarious, and he died on 12 March 1910 at his residence in Harcourt Street, Dublin, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery near the grave of his famous leader.
Harrington never had full scope for his abilities. He showed first-rate capacity as a barrister, but his political sentiment was too strong to permit him to concentrate his powers on his profession. It is mainly on his record as secretary of the Land League that Harrington's reputation rests. His refusal of government positions when he was in sore financial straits proved his thorough disinterestedness. He was held in high esteem by his political opponents. He married in 1892 Elizabeth, second daughter of Dr. Edward O'Neill of Dublin, who, with five children, survived him. Besides the pamphlet already cited, he published 'A Diary of Coercion' (1888).
[Davitt's Fall of Feudalism, pp. 514 &c.; O'Brien's Life of Parnell, passim; O'Connor's Parnell Movement, passim; D'Alton's History of Ireland, p. 348 ; Dod's Parl. Companion; Freeman's Journal and Irish Independent, 13 March 1910.]