Todd Andrews

This article is about the Irish republican. For the actor, seeTod Andrews.

Todd Andrews
Birth name	Christopher Stephen Andrews
Born	(1901-10-06)6 October 1901 Summerhill, Dublin,Ireland
Died	11 October 1985(1985-10-11)(aged 84) Phibsborough,Dublin,Ireland
Allegiance	Ireland
Service/branch	Irish Republican Army Anti-Treaty IRA
Years of service	1919–1923
Wars	Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War
Spouse(s)	Mary Coyle ​ ​ (m.1928; died 1967)​ Joyce Duffy ​ (m.1968)​
Children	4, includingDavidandNiall
Relations	Ryan Tubridy(grandson) Barry Andrews(grandson) Chris Andrews(grandson) David McSavage(grandson)
Other work	Public servant

Christopher Stephen "Todd" Andrews(6 October 1901 – 11 October 1985) was anIrish republicanand later a public servant. He participated in theIrish War of Independenceand theCivil Warbut never stood for election or held public office.

Early life and education

Andrews was born at 42SummerhillinDublinin 1901. He acquired the nickname "Todd" because of his perceived resemblance to English comic strip hero Alonzo Todd, who appeared inThe Magnet.Andrews briefly attendedSt. Enda's Schooland completed his secondary education atSynge Street CBS.He went on to study Commerce atUniversity College Dublin,and although his studies were interrupted by his participation in theIrish War of Independenceand theIrish Civil War,he returned to the university where he obtained adegree in Commerce.

Nationalist revolutionary

Andrews was politicised by the1916 Rising.He joined theIrish Volunteersat the age of fifteen and had an active role in theIrish Republican Armyduring theIrish War of Independence,fighting with the Rathfarnham company of the 4th Dublin Brigade.He was arrested and imprisoned in 1920 but released after ten days on hunger strike. He was interned atthe Curraghin 1921 but tunnelled his way to freedom with two comrades.Andrews opposed theAnglo-Irish Treatyand, after the creation of the IRA's Four Courts Executive in April 1922, became assistant to Director of OperationsErnie O'Malley.He took the republican side during theIrish Civil Warand was wounded in the fighting in O'Connell Street, Dublin. Andrews was appointed the IRA's General Headquarters and travelled the country supervising the training of volunteers.Andrews was interned by the government of theIrish Free Stateuntil early 1924.

Public servant

After graduation, Andrews found employment as an accountant with the then-fledgling Irish Tourist Association where he structured their accounts office, as well as editing several of their publications. In the summer of 1930 he was offered a position as an accountant with theElectricity Supply Boardat a time when they were expanding the National Grid and constructing significant Hydro-Electric projects such asArdnacrusha.

In 1933, Andrews was appointed to the Department of Industry and Commerce, where he dealt with the industrialisation of Irish turf development. Andrews initially set up a network of co-ops that locally harvested and sold turf but quickly saw that this arrangement was insufficient to successfully modernise turf production in Ireland on a commercial scale; it also drew the ire ofcoal merchantswho worried about the effect of a State-led competition to their markets. However such worries were overcome by Andrews through shrewd and active man management, culminating with the establishment of the Turf Development Board in 1934. The new semi-state company helped overcome future issues in managing peat harvesting on a grand scale and schemes set up to help fuel Ireland duringThe Emergency,and ultimately led to the formation ofBord Na Monain 1946, a body that he ultimately became Chief Executive of.

CIE

In 1958 Andrew was offered and accepted the chairmanship of the Irish transport companyCóras Iompair Éireann(CIÉ), which was in a perilous fiscal state. Following on from the findings of the Beddy Report,he drew from his business experience and oversaw a large restructuring of the Irish rail system. This included the purchase of diesel electric engines from General Motors, the introduction of modern coaching stock, the phased closure of uneconomic services and elimination of slow stopping services, the introduction of new braked good wagons as well as a revamp of ticketing arrangements. He also oversaw the closures of several lines that were perennially uneconomic and loss-making. This included:

• The Bray toHarcourt Street railway line.The closure of the Harcourt Street line is undoubtedly the most infamous railway closure in Ireland. The line had not been profitable for decades, in spite of it seeing many cost-cutting measures to try and improve business. Electric signalling, AEC railcars and summer special trains to Wicklow and Wexford had been introduced on the line to try and increase its footfall and to lover costs to no avail. On foot of a recommendation of the Beddy Report, the line ceased services on 31 December 1958 and formally abandoned in January 1959. As the city expanded outwards in the mid and late 1970s the route was kept clear and partially reopened as part of theLUAS Green Line.
• The substantial railway network west of Cork city. This included lines to Bandon, Bantry and Macroom, and branch lines to Clonakility, Skibbereen and Kinsale. Again, the lines struggled for business and saw diminishing business as cars, buses and lorries became more affordable and able to address passenger needs more practically.
• TheHill of Howth Tramway,which was inherited from theGreat Northern Railway.This anomalous line was built around Howth Head to exploit an expected tourism boom in the seaside village that never came to be. While the line served its sparse locality quite well it never turned a profit and escaped closure several times while under the auspices of the Great Northern Railway Board. However, its infrastructure and rolling stock had not been replaced during its lifetime and, with this weighed against a need for essential cost-cutting, its closure was inevitable giving CIE's poor fiscal state and statutory requirements to become profitable.
• TheWest Clare Railway.Again, this line's came against a backdrop of cost-cutting but unlike other narrow gauge lines it saw the introduction of a fleet of modern diesel locomotives and railcars. While the new stock improved service levels and economics of the lines considerably they weren't enough to save the line.
• TheCahersiveen,KenmareandKanturklines. As was common with many rural railways the traffic levels on these three lines were sparse. The branches to Kanturk and Kenmare has diesel engines allocated to them too, but to no avail.

Andrews also oversaw the resurgence and modernisation of CIE road transport, provincial and city bus services in Ireland. Steam traction was eliminated under his chairmanship, a cost benefit that undoubtedly saved CIE from certain collapse, while modern van and lorries took on delivery of freights in place of horse and carriage. In spite of such economies, CIE still struggled under a state expectation that it run without subvention; an impossible ask given the sparse traffic and passenger numbers in a land cropped by emigration. Issues of Partition often affected the operation of the company; CIE was forced to introduce additional bus services in border areas upon the withdrawal of the Ulster Transport Authority from cross border services, notably with the GNRB in 1958 and the County Donegal Railway Joint Committee in 1959. In spite of all this, many people believe CIE was in a far improved condition that Andrews took up in 1958. Others take the opposite view.

RTÉ

He retired from CIE upon his 65th birthday but before he stood down he became chairman of theRTÉ Authorityat the request ofSeán Lemass.During his time as chairman he oversaw significant changes as the broadcaster expanded RTÉ Radio and Television, as well as the introduction of FM radio and colour television, the opening of a Belfast news desk, the beginning of the move from the GPO to a new complex at Montrose, Donnybrook. Andrews frequently rebutted Government interference in the organisation, even rebutting advances from then Minister Erskine Childers to suppress some employees who were suspected of being subversives.Todd resigned from RTÉ in 1970 after his sonDavid Andrewswas appointed Chief Whip to theTaoiseach.

Later life and family

He was the recipient of severalhonorary doctoratesand degrees from various universities. He published his autobiography in two volumes in 1979 and 1982, under the titles ofDublin Made MeandMan of No Property.

Andrews died inDublinat the age of 84.

Two of his sons,Niall Andrewsand David Andrews, becameTDs;David Andrews becameMinister for Foreign Affairs.

His brother,Paddy Andrewswas a football player, most notably withBohemianswho was also capped by theIrish Free State.Todd Andrews' grandsonRyan Tubridywas a radio presenter and television chatshow host on RTÉ, while grandsonsBarry AndrewsandChris Andrewswere alsoTDs.Another grandson is comedianDavid McSavage.

Gay Byrne,one of Tubridy's predecessors onThe Late Late Show,in his 1989 memoirThe Time of My Lifeand subsequently in an RTÉ documentary in 2005, related how Andrews, when chairman of the RTÉ Authority, phoned theDirector General of RTÉTim McCourt and ordered him to fire "that fucker Byrne"; McCourt refused to dismiss Byrne.

Bibliography

Autobiography

• Dublin Made Me(Lilliput, 2001)ISBN978-1-901866-65-0
• Man of no Property(Lilliput, 2001)ISBN978-1-901866-66-7