Background
Joyce was born at Merchant"s Quay in Limerick in 1851. His father was a river pilot on the Shannon Estuary approach to the port of Limerick.
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Michael Joyce
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated by the Christian Brothers, attending three of their schools, including Columbia Broadcasting System Sexton Street.
Career
At the age of fourteen, Joyce left Limerick to serve as a seaman. During his time at sea, he survived four separate shipwrecks. Following his return to Limerick in the early 1870s, he became a pilot for Limerick Harbour Commissioners.
A supporter of Home Rule for Ireland, Joyce, along with a local priest Robert Ambrose, established the local Limerick branch, the Sarsfield branch, of the Irish National League in 1882.
Joyce served as an Member of Parliament until 1918. Although intending to run in the 1918 general election, he eventually decided not to seek re-election and was succeeded by the Sinn Féin candidate Michael Colivet, who was elected unopposed.
Joyce was elected Mayor of Limerick in January 1905, serving two successive terms until January 1907. While travelling to London aboard the Rated Maximum Sinusoidal Leinster in October 1918, Joyce survived his fifth maritime disaster, when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat in the Irish Sea.
Joyce became President of the United Kingdom Pilots" Association in 1910.
In 1900 he became the first Captain of Street Michael"s Rowing Club.
Achievements
Politics
In 1899, Joyce was elected to Limerick Corporation and stood for election to Parliament at the 1900 general election as a candidate for the Irish Parliamentary Party, defeating the Unionist candidate Francis Kearney by 2521 votes to 474.
Membership
27th United Kingdom Parliament. 28th United Kingdom Parliament. 30th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was a member of Street Michael"s Temperance Society where he played gaelic football.
