Career
Born in Wicklow, he started work early and held a variety of jobs until, in 1923, he was employed by the Irish Transport and General Workers" Union (ITGWU) as their full-time organiser in Wicklow. Although he and a colleague were charged with conspiracy, they were found not guilty, and Conroy continued his union career. After a period working in Limerick, he moved to Dublin to take charge of the union"s Industrial Section.
He was elected as Vice President of the ITGWU in 1946, and as General President in 1953.
As President of the union, Conroy focused on a programme of modernisation, along with campaigning for a national minimum wage.