Patrick Belton

Born in Rathcline, Lanesborough, in 1884, Patrick Belton moved to London as a young man and studied at King's College School. After completing his education, he worked as a civil servant. Belton became very friendly with Michael Collins and both were involved in Geraldines GAA club. There is good reason to believe that it was Belton who swore Collins into the IRB. The two men would continue their friendship in the following years. Belton moved to Dublin in 1910 and worked in the Land Commission.

When the Easter Rising began, Belton was initially attached to the GPO garrison. He remained there until late Tuesday or early Wednesday when he was assigned to act as intelligence officer for Thomas Ashe, who commanded the garrison in Ashbourne, Co. Meath. For the remainder of the week Belton worked to get information and ammunition for the Ashe. After the Rising, he was suspected of involvement and investigated, but he managed to cover up his activities and so held his job.

Belton was prominent in the Irish National Aid Association and Volunteers Dependants' Fund after the rising and supported Michael Collins in becoming its secretary. In 1918, he was imprisoned in Belfast Jail for six months for his involvement in the association and as a result, was dismissed from his post in the Land Commission in 1919.

After earlier unsuccessful attempts to get elected to the Dáil, Belton was elected for Fianna Fáil in 1927. He soon broke with the party by entering the Dáil. His later political career included periods of membership of Cumann na nGeadheal, the Blueshirts and Fine Gael. He was a founder and president of the Irish Christian Front, which supported General Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Belton served on several local authorites in Dublin. He died in 1945.