Daniel Boyle (politician)
His educational qualifications enabled him to find employment as a clerk with the Midland Railway Company in the city, working his way through the ranks until 1889, when he resigned.
Although he had obtained the position of Registrar of Births and Deaths in the Ancoats Division, he intended to concentrate upon a possible career as a freelance journalist (in addition to contributing to English newspapers, he had become the Manchester correspondent of the Freeman's Journal).
He was also very active in the Irish National Foresters (a sick and burial friendly society) travelling at weekends to establish branches in the North and Midlands.
Boyle was involved in the long-term re-organisation of the Manchester City Police after the revelations of an official enquiry revealed widespread corruption.
Speaking at the banquet to celebrate the opening, he said that the object was to provide a good service with the best possible conditions, and, not least, to give the ratepayers a decent return on their capital.
However, he was on the progressive wing of the party, supporting the municipalisation of essential services, and decent working conditions for council employees.
On 29 January 1904, the Manchester Guardian quoted him as stating that it was a public duty on the part of both local and central government to relieve distress.
Boyle contested North Mayo and was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP), defeating a Mr. Egan (Independent) after a "lively campaign."
Boyle was leaving for the United States on what was described as a "mission to the Irish Race of America" in the company of fellow MPs John Redmond, T.P.
The evening was chaired by Daniel McCabe and the programme consisted of familiar songs ("Ireland A Nation", "Men of the West", "Paddies Evermore" and "the Boys of Wexford"), interspersed by toasts, one of which was made by John Dulanty (later the Irish High Commissioner in London), who described Boyle as "the spearhead of the shaft of the Irish forces in this vicinity".
Replying to the toast Dan Boyle said that he looked upon his selection as one of the mission to the United States as a compliment to the Irishmen of Great Britain, who had shown unswerving fidelity to the Irish cause through trying times.
"I believe that this is a period for the rank and file of the party to stand solidly and united behind their leaders, to do the thinking and working out of the plan of campaign.
As a result of the statesmanship and diplomacy that these leaders have shown I believe our cause is nearer accomplishment than it ever was, and as Mr. Redmond recently said at Kilkenny, even the stars in the courses are working for Home Rule."
The majority of these related to the Old Age Pension problems of individual constituents and cases arising out of the operation of Irish land reform.
(The Liberal government, with Labour Party and Irish support, were determined to reverse the decision enshrined in the infamous Osborne Judgement.)
In 1912, he was chosen to serve on a House of Commons Select Committee to enquire into the impact of motor buses and similar vehicles upon London street accidents.
John Redmond pledged complete support to Asquith's government at the outbreak of war, even offering the use of the Irish Volunteers in the defence of the country.
Boyle supported the Nationalist candidate in South Armagh election on 28 January 1918, and participated in the Irish Convention in Manchester in October.
