George Crosbie

Tullabeg 1878-1881 I George Crosbie

George Crosbie (1864-1934), newspaper proprietor and politician, was a native of Cork, who attended Tullabeg in 1878-81. Called to the bar in 1889, he never practised. Instead he took over editorship of the Cork Examiner from his father, becoming chairman of the ownership company in 1899. He converted the morning paper into a thriving and profitable business, installing modern printing machinery and astutely purchased adjoining property, which allowed him to expand the paper’s premises from the original site. As a young journalist, he had made a name for himself by writing in support of the Land League. As editor, he strongly supported the Irish Parliamentary Party, led by his friend John Redmond, who persuaded him to run – unsuccessfully – for a parliamentary seat in a by-election in 1909. The Cork Examiner was the only leading Irish newspaper to condemn the 1916 executions. In 1919 the British forces closed the paper for publishing the prospectus for the Dáil Éireann national loan. In 1922 anti-treaty forces destroyed the presses during the civil war. Crosbie’s house was burned (and with it his fine art collection) and his life threatened at this time. He was close to the Cumann na nGaedheal government and served as a senator for some years before his death. He was immensely active in Cork business life, promoting the development and culture of his native city at every opportunity. The Cork Industrial Development Association, which he chaired for many years, was the forerunner of the IDA. His family’s association with the Examiner group of newspapers continues.