Hugh Gibbons (6 July 1916 – 13 November 2007) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who sat in Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála (TD) for twelve years, from 1965 to 1977.
A medical doctor before entering politics, Gibbons was elected on his first attempt, when he stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Roscommon constituency at the 1965 general election. After constituency changes, he was re-elected at the 1969 general election in the new Roscommon–Leitrim constituency. He was returned to the Dáil again at the 1973 general election, but did not contest the 1977 general election and retired from politics.
Gibbons was also holder of three All Ireland Medals while playing for Roscommon in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football and Junior Club Football Championships. In 1940 he played with the county junior team, which won the All Ireland junior title that year. He then played for the county team which won the All Ireland senior titles in 1943 and 1944. He also played for and co founded St. Ronans GAA club in North Roscommon. On his death, he was described by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as a 'Sportsman and a Scholar'.
His son, Brian Gibbons was the Labour Party Welsh Assembly Member for Aberavon from 1999 to 2010.
Prelude to the Easter Rising of 1916
The Signatories of the Proclamation
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Michael Lyons
Michael Dalgan Lyons (1 November 1910 – 19 November 1991) was an Irish Fine Gael politician from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.
A farmer and former employee of the Irish Sugar Company, he stood unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate for Dáil Éireann in the Mayo South constituency at three successive general elections (1954, 1957, and 1961) before finally winning the seat at the 1965 general election to the 18th Dáil. He served only one term in the Dáil, losing his seat at the 1969 general election.
Lyons did not stand for the Dáil again, but after his 1969 defeat he was elected to the 12th Seanad on the Oireachtas sub-panel of the Labour Panel. He was re-elected in 1973 to the 13th Seanad and in 1977 to the 14th Seanad, but did not contest the 1981 Seanad election.
A farmer and former employee of the Irish Sugar Company, he stood unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate for Dáil Éireann in the Mayo South constituency at three successive general elections (1954, 1957, and 1961) before finally winning the seat at the 1965 general election to the 18th Dáil. He served only one term in the Dáil, losing his seat at the 1969 general election.
Lyons did not stand for the Dáil again, but after his 1969 defeat he was elected to the 12th Seanad on the Oireachtas sub-panel of the Labour Panel. He was re-elected in 1973 to the 13th Seanad and in 1977 to the 14th Seanad, but did not contest the 1981 Seanad election.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Gerry L'Estrange
Matthew Gerrard "Gerry" L'Estrange (7 November 1917 – 5 April 1996) was an Irish Fine Gael politician, who sat in the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years, as a Senator and then as a Teachta Dála (TD).
L'Estrange was elected to Westmeath County Council in 1942, and served on that body until 1981 – one of its longest records of service. He was Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Council for three years from 1959 to 1961 and served on virtually all the subsidiary and other bodies to which the council made appointments. He was chairman of the General Council of County Councils (Ireland) on three occasions, now known as the Association of County and City Councils.
L'Estrange was unsuccessful Clann na Talmhan candidate for Dáil Éireann at the 1944 general election. He later joined Fine Gael and ran as their candidate at the 1948 general election, but was again unsuccessful. In 1954 he secured election to the 8th Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel. He was re-elected in 1957 to 9th Seanad, and in 1961 to 10th Seanad.
After another unsuccessful candidacy at the 1961 general election, L'Estrange was finally elected to the 18th Dáil for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1965 election, and was re-elected at each successive election until he retired from politics at the 1987 general election.
After the 1981 general election, a Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition was returned to office in the 22nd Dáil under Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald. L'Estrange was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, a position which included the role of Chief Whip.
In 1973, L'Estrange was appointed a member of the second delegation from the Oireachtas to the European Parliament and re-appointed to the third delegation in 1977.
When his party was in Government and was being attacked by Fianna Fáil on the draining of the River Shannon, he is reputed to have replied "If you can suck as well as you can blow, the Shannon will be drained by teatime".
Gerry L'Estrange was born in Correaly, Street, County Westmeath the eldest of six children of farmer Patrick L'Estrange and Maud (née Byrne).
He was a noted athlete who competed on the national and local stage in long distance running. In 1955, he married farmer's daughter Aileen Kellaghan from Ballinriddera, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath. They lived in Killintown, Multyfarnham.
Both L'Estrange and his wife were keen on greyhound racing, owning and training their own dogs.
L'Estrange died on Good Friday, 1996 after a long illness, Later that month both Houses of the Oireachtas observed a one minute silence following expressions of sympathy. The Taoiseach, John Bruton, spoke of a man who "could speak strongly and from a deep conviction and at the same time hold no personal malice towards any of the victims of his eloquence". Maurice Manning recalled a man never "in bad humour or without that smile which usually meant that a practical joke or a good story was on the way".
L'Estrange was elected to Westmeath County Council in 1942, and served on that body until 1981 – one of its longest records of service. He was Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Council for three years from 1959 to 1961 and served on virtually all the subsidiary and other bodies to which the council made appointments. He was chairman of the General Council of County Councils (Ireland) on three occasions, now known as the Association of County and City Councils.
L'Estrange was unsuccessful Clann na Talmhan candidate for Dáil Éireann at the 1944 general election. He later joined Fine Gael and ran as their candidate at the 1948 general election, but was again unsuccessful. In 1954 he secured election to the 8th Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel. He was re-elected in 1957 to 9th Seanad, and in 1961 to 10th Seanad.
After another unsuccessful candidacy at the 1961 general election, L'Estrange was finally elected to the 18th Dáil for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1965 election, and was re-elected at each successive election until he retired from politics at the 1987 general election.
After the 1981 general election, a Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition was returned to office in the 22nd Dáil under Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald. L'Estrange was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, a position which included the role of Chief Whip.
In 1973, L'Estrange was appointed a member of the second delegation from the Oireachtas to the European Parliament and re-appointed to the third delegation in 1977.
When his party was in Government and was being attacked by Fianna Fáil on the draining of the River Shannon, he is reputed to have replied "If you can suck as well as you can blow, the Shannon will be drained by teatime".
Gerry L'Estrange was born in Correaly, Street, County Westmeath the eldest of six children of farmer Patrick L'Estrange and Maud (née Byrne).
He was a noted athlete who competed on the national and local stage in long distance running. In 1955, he married farmer's daughter Aileen Kellaghan from Ballinriddera, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath. They lived in Killintown, Multyfarnham.
Both L'Estrange and his wife were keen on greyhound racing, owning and training their own dogs.
L'Estrange died on Good Friday, 1996 after a long illness, Later that month both Houses of the Oireachtas observed a one minute silence following expressions of sympathy. The Taoiseach, John Bruton, spoke of a man who "could speak strongly and from a deep conviction and at the same time hold no personal malice towards any of the victims of his eloquence". Maurice Manning recalled a man never "in bad humour or without that smile which usually meant that a practical joke or a good story was on the way".
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Patrick Lenihan
Patrick Lenihan (4 September 1902 – 11 March 1970) was an Irish people Fianna Fáil politician in the early 1960s. He held the distinction of being the only parent to be elected to an Irish parliament where his son was already a member.
Born in Kilfenora, County Clare, he was an Inspector of Taxes in Dundalk before being taken out by Seán Lemass to run the Gentex textiles company in Athlone. At its height it was the major employer in the midlands. He also was involved for some years in the Hudson Bay hotel on Lough Ree and was instrumental in the establishment of the All Ireland amateur drama festival.
He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) at his first attempt for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1965 general election. He beat the long serving Fine Gael TD Seán Mac Eoin in the famous "long count". His son Brian Lenihan had been elected in the neighbouring constituency of Roscommon at the previous election in 1961. It was the first, and to date only, occasion of a child preceding his parent into the Dáil. He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1969 general election and died suddenly in 1970. His seat was taken at the subsequent by election by Fine Gael's Patrick Cooney who subsequently went on to serve as a Minister.
Two of his children, Brian Lenihan, Snr and Mary O'Rourke served as Irish cabinet ministers. A third, Paddy, served as a county councillor in Roscommon although in the later stages of his career in the 1980s left the party to join up with Neil Blaney's Independent Fianna Fáil party. Two of his grandchildren, Brian Lenihan, Jnr and Conor Lenihan, served as Minister for Finance and Minister of State respectively in the government of Brian Cowen. Conor Lenihan and Mary O'Rouke lost their seats at the 2011 general election. Brian Lenihan, Jnr was re-elected but died in June 2011, ending the Lenihans 50-years of continuous service in the Oireachtas.
Patrick Lenihan was the only member of his family to serve in the Dáil who was not appointed a minister at some stage in his career.
Born in Kilfenora, County Clare, he was an Inspector of Taxes in Dundalk before being taken out by Seán Lemass to run the Gentex textiles company in Athlone. At its height it was the major employer in the midlands. He also was involved for some years in the Hudson Bay hotel on Lough Ree and was instrumental in the establishment of the All Ireland amateur drama festival.
He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) at his first attempt for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1965 general election. He beat the long serving Fine Gael TD Seán Mac Eoin in the famous "long count". His son Brian Lenihan had been elected in the neighbouring constituency of Roscommon at the previous election in 1961. It was the first, and to date only, occasion of a child preceding his parent into the Dáil. He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1969 general election and died suddenly in 1970. His seat was taken at the subsequent by election by Fine Gael's Patrick Cooney who subsequently went on to serve as a Minister.
Two of his children, Brian Lenihan, Snr and Mary O'Rourke served as Irish cabinet ministers. A third, Paddy, served as a county councillor in Roscommon although in the later stages of his career in the 1980s left the party to join up with Neil Blaney's Independent Fianna Fáil party. Two of his grandchildren, Brian Lenihan, Jnr and Conor Lenihan, served as Minister for Finance and Minister of State respectively in the government of Brian Cowen. Conor Lenihan and Mary O'Rouke lost their seats at the 2011 general election. Brian Lenihan, Jnr was re-elected but died in June 2011, ending the Lenihans 50-years of continuous service in the Oireachtas.
Patrick Lenihan was the only member of his family to serve in the Dáil who was not appointed a minister at some stage in his career.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Henry Byrne
Henry Byrne
He first stood for election as an independent candidate at the 1944 general election for the Wicklow constituency, but was unsuccessful, receiving only 534 first-preference votes. He stood again as one of two Labour Party candidates at the 1961 general election for the Laois–Offaly constituency, but was unsuccessful.
He was successful on his next attempt, as the only Labour candidate at the 1965 general election in Laois-Offaly, taking his seat in the 18th Dáil.
Byrne did not contest the 1969 general election, and polled less than 1,000 first-preference votes when he stood again in the same constituency as one of two Labour candidates at the 1973 general election.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Patrick Norton
Patrick Norton
In February 1969, he joined Fianna Fáil, as stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 1969 general election but lost his seat. He was subsequently elected to the 12th Seanad on the Administrative Panel as a Fianna Fáil senator. He also stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 1973 general election for the Dublin South–East constituency but he was not elected.
Members of the Seventeenth Dáil - Patrick Connor
Patrick Connor (15 March 1906 – 26 August 1989) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served for four years as a Senator and eight years as a Teachta Dála (TD).
Connor was first elected to Seanad Éireann on his first attempt, in 1957, when he was returned by the Administrative Panel to the 9th Seanad.
Following the retirement of Fine Gael TD Patrick Palmer, Connor stood as a Fine Gael candidate for the Kerry South constituency at the 1961 general election, and was elected to Dáil Éireann. He was re-elected at the 1965 general election, but lost his seat at the 1969 general election to his Fine Gael running-mate, Michael Begley. He did not contest any further elections.
Connor was first elected to Seanad Éireann on his first attempt, in 1957, when he was returned by the Administrative Panel to the 9th Seanad.
Following the retirement of Fine Gael TD Patrick Palmer, Connor stood as a Fine Gael candidate for the Kerry South constituency at the 1961 general election, and was elected to Dáil Éireann. He was re-elected at the 1965 general election, but lost his seat at the 1969 general election to his Fine Gael running-mate, Michael Begley. He did not contest any further elections.
The Rape of Barbara Naughton
Barbara Naughton (born 1979) is an Irish author.
Naughton, a native of Kinvarra, Camus, Connemara, became a central figure in a political and legal incident in Ireland in 2002 in relation to child sexual abuse. She wrote a book called Daddy, Please Don't about her experience of being sexually abused by her father.
First raped at the age of eight, Barbara Naughton found the courage to convict her father and turn her life around.
Barbara Naughton still remembers the day she realised "the thing" her father was doing to her was not normal. She was 10 years old and sitting on some steps outside her primary school in Connemara, marvelling at how her classmates seemed so happy and carefree. In her innocence, Barbara had believed her father's claims that "this thing" happened in every house, and assumed that her friends were all being subjected to some form of physical, sexual or mental abuse.
"I was sitting there wondering 'why are these girls happy? Why are they playing? What gives them the right to be happy if they're going through the same thing as me?' I'd been told that everyone was going through worse than 'this thing'," explained the 30-year-old from Galway.
"He didn't even give it a name, because if I knew the word I would have been able to go to the police."
Today, the pretty blonde author is far removed from the horrific situation that dominated her childhood years. Sitting in the secluded confines of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, she exudes a confidence and defiance that proves her past will never get the better of her.
She enjoys a glowing CV of acting accomplishments and will shortly feature in a new BBC series starring fashion icon Twiggy. She has also tried her hand at script writing in Irish and done a number of walk-on parts in Irish language television series.
On the table sits a copy of her first book, Daddy, Please Don't, her childhood memoirs and a heartbreaking portrait of the six years of abuse inflicted on her from the age of eight by her father, Patrick Naughton.
Today, the man she describes as "the beast" is serving an 11-year sentence for raping his daughter. His trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2002 ended in controversy after it emerged that the trial judge had been contacted by the office of junior minister Bobby Molloy of the Progressive Democrats. Mr Molloy later resigned over the issue.
Barbara was a few weeks short of her ninth birthday when her father first entered her room on a Sunday morning and raped her. It was the start of a lengthy catalogue of abuse that continued for six years, sometimes even when her mother and siblings were in the house.
On at least two occasions, her mother became suspicious about her husband's presence in Barbara's room, but he continued his vicious deeds undetected.
Even now, the possibility that she could have been saved plays on Barbara's mind.
"I've asked my mother about it and it created a massive row. A few times I've said: "Do you recall a night when he came in," and she just flew off the handle.
"I know if I was a mother, I'd be focusing on patching things up, fixing relationships with siblings, knowing who the bad person was and being thankful that the bad person has been sent away."
At the first available opportunity, Barbara moved out and found a job, yet her past came back to haunt her at the age of 18 when her father picked her up from work one day, drove her down a quiet road and raped her again. As he pressed his hands to her neck and began choking her, she swore that if she survived she would go to the police.
Eventually, it was the kindness of a work colleague that encouraged her to press charges.
Looking back, Barbara still remembers with gratitude her friend's kindness.
"I felt sorry for the girl that she had to hear that at such a young age," she said. "I had mixed emotions about going to the police. I was physically sick at the time when I came out with the story that I had held inside for so many years."
Alas, revealing the details of her traumatic childhood did not bring the relief and support she expected. Members of her own family turned against her and claimed she was spreading lies.
And while Barbara's mother accompanied her to the court case in Dublin in 2002, the relationship between mother and daughter deteriorated rapidly.
In her gripping book, Barbara paints a haunting if sometimes humourous picture of life in a quiet rural area. Stories of her father's sexual abuse are mixed with tales of the day he killed the family dogs and the time he brought Barbara fishing but threw her into the water tied to a rope. He also persisted in cutting her hair short, exposing her to ridicule among her classmates.
Despite his status as a well-liked, upstanding member of the community, Patrick Naughton stood out by his refusal to attend Mass.
Barbara remembers: "He thought the priest was repeating himself on the altar. He said there was no goodness in going to Mass. He said several times to my mother: 'What good is it going to Mass? What good will it do you? If this really works, why do you have so many problems?'"
During the early days of the abuse, Barbara fainted and vomited regularly as her body attempted to physically reject the horror of her father's actions.
As a result, she was kept home from Mass, and when she finally did reappear, "people would turn and look at me because Barbara hadn't been seen at Mass in several weeks".
Even now, the physical effects of the repeated raping are evident. Aside from the psychological impact, Barbara suffers from stress-related Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nightmares still haunt her, and she has turned to a range of alternative therapies and counselling to ensure that her past does not impede her path to the future.
Having learned the facts of life in the most depraved way possible, Barbara could be forgiven for turning her back on the prospect of a romantic relationship. Yet she remains upbeat, insisting that marriage and children are definitely on the cards.
In the background, the prospect of her father's release from prison is never far from her mind.
"I'm not afraid of him," she says emphatically. "He should be worried. As a kid I had no control of my life. These type of sick animals, it's kids that interest them. But he should be afraid of me.
"There have been times when I've threatened to attack him. I've gone as far as the gates of Arbour Hill but my friends tell me not to go in. I just think of the bastard sitting there at the trial and lying about everything.
"When my father gets out, I intend to confront him. I've already rehearsed it in my head. It's one thing to sit across from him in a courtroom but I want to sit there, one to one and see him for the pig that he is."
While waiting for the trial to begin, Barbara made her first move towards a fresh start by heading to New York. She now divides her time between New York and Dublin, and will shortly be heading across the water once again.
Writing her first book has taken her some way towards releasing the demons, yet she believes the finished product is not a book about child sexual abuse.
"You don't have to be sexually abused to read this book. I was careful not to dwell on the sexual abuse so there is no real detail. But the story shows all the symptoms of someone playing mind games and there is more reference to psychological abuse than sexual abuse."
Daddy, Please Don't by Barbara Naughton (Merlin Publishing) is in shops from today.
Naughton, a native of Kinvarra, Camus, Connemara, became a central figure in a political and legal incident in Ireland in 2002 in relation to child sexual abuse. She wrote a book called Daddy, Please Don't about her experience of being sexually abused by her father.
First raped at the age of eight, Barbara Naughton found the courage to convict her father and turn her life around.
Barbara Naughton still remembers the day she realised "the thing" her father was doing to her was not normal. She was 10 years old and sitting on some steps outside her primary school in Connemara, marvelling at how her classmates seemed so happy and carefree. In her innocence, Barbara had believed her father's claims that "this thing" happened in every house, and assumed that her friends were all being subjected to some form of physical, sexual or mental abuse.
"I was sitting there wondering 'why are these girls happy? Why are they playing? What gives them the right to be happy if they're going through the same thing as me?' I'd been told that everyone was going through worse than 'this thing'," explained the 30-year-old from Galway.
"He didn't even give it a name, because if I knew the word I would have been able to go to the police."
Today, the pretty blonde author is far removed from the horrific situation that dominated her childhood years. Sitting in the secluded confines of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, she exudes a confidence and defiance that proves her past will never get the better of her.
She enjoys a glowing CV of acting accomplishments and will shortly feature in a new BBC series starring fashion icon Twiggy. She has also tried her hand at script writing in Irish and done a number of walk-on parts in Irish language television series.
On the table sits a copy of her first book, Daddy, Please Don't, her childhood memoirs and a heartbreaking portrait of the six years of abuse inflicted on her from the age of eight by her father, Patrick Naughton.
Today, the man she describes as "the beast" is serving an 11-year sentence for raping his daughter. His trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2002 ended in controversy after it emerged that the trial judge had been contacted by the office of junior minister Bobby Molloy of the Progressive Democrats. Mr Molloy later resigned over the issue.
Barbara was a few weeks short of her ninth birthday when her father first entered her room on a Sunday morning and raped her. It was the start of a lengthy catalogue of abuse that continued for six years, sometimes even when her mother and siblings were in the house.
On at least two occasions, her mother became suspicious about her husband's presence in Barbara's room, but he continued his vicious deeds undetected.
Even now, the possibility that she could have been saved plays on Barbara's mind.
"I've asked my mother about it and it created a massive row. A few times I've said: "Do you recall a night when he came in," and she just flew off the handle.
"I know if I was a mother, I'd be focusing on patching things up, fixing relationships with siblings, knowing who the bad person was and being thankful that the bad person has been sent away."
At the first available opportunity, Barbara moved out and found a job, yet her past came back to haunt her at the age of 18 when her father picked her up from work one day, drove her down a quiet road and raped her again. As he pressed his hands to her neck and began choking her, she swore that if she survived she would go to the police.
Eventually, it was the kindness of a work colleague that encouraged her to press charges.
Looking back, Barbara still remembers with gratitude her friend's kindness.
"I felt sorry for the girl that she had to hear that at such a young age," she said. "I had mixed emotions about going to the police. I was physically sick at the time when I came out with the story that I had held inside for so many years."
Alas, revealing the details of her traumatic childhood did not bring the relief and support she expected. Members of her own family turned against her and claimed she was spreading lies.
And while Barbara's mother accompanied her to the court case in Dublin in 2002, the relationship between mother and daughter deteriorated rapidly.
In her gripping book, Barbara paints a haunting if sometimes humourous picture of life in a quiet rural area. Stories of her father's sexual abuse are mixed with tales of the day he killed the family dogs and the time he brought Barbara fishing but threw her into the water tied to a rope. He also persisted in cutting her hair short, exposing her to ridicule among her classmates.
Despite his status as a well-liked, upstanding member of the community, Patrick Naughton stood out by his refusal to attend Mass.
Barbara remembers: "He thought the priest was repeating himself on the altar. He said there was no goodness in going to Mass. He said several times to my mother: 'What good is it going to Mass? What good will it do you? If this really works, why do you have so many problems?'"
During the early days of the abuse, Barbara fainted and vomited regularly as her body attempted to physically reject the horror of her father's actions.
As a result, she was kept home from Mass, and when she finally did reappear, "people would turn and look at me because Barbara hadn't been seen at Mass in several weeks".
Even now, the physical effects of the repeated raping are evident. Aside from the psychological impact, Barbara suffers from stress-related Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nightmares still haunt her, and she has turned to a range of alternative therapies and counselling to ensure that her past does not impede her path to the future.
Having learned the facts of life in the most depraved way possible, Barbara could be forgiven for turning her back on the prospect of a romantic relationship. Yet she remains upbeat, insisting that marriage and children are definitely on the cards.
In the background, the prospect of her father's release from prison is never far from her mind.
"I'm not afraid of him," she says emphatically. "He should be worried. As a kid I had no control of my life. These type of sick animals, it's kids that interest them. But he should be afraid of me.
"There have been times when I've threatened to attack him. I've gone as far as the gates of Arbour Hill but my friends tell me not to go in. I just think of the bastard sitting there at the trial and lying about everything.
"When my father gets out, I intend to confront him. I've already rehearsed it in my head. It's one thing to sit across from him in a courtroom but I want to sit there, one to one and see him for the pig that he is."
While waiting for the trial to begin, Barbara made her first move towards a fresh start by heading to New York. She now divides her time between New York and Dublin, and will shortly be heading across the water once again.
Writing her first book has taken her some way towards releasing the demons, yet she believes the finished product is not a book about child sexual abuse.
"You don't have to be sexually abused to read this book. I was careful not to dwell on the sexual abuse so there is no real detail. But the story shows all the symptoms of someone playing mind games and there is more reference to psychological abuse than sexual abuse."
Daddy, Please Don't by Barbara Naughton (Merlin Publishing) is in shops from today.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Bobby Molloy
Bobby Molloy
Molloy was born in Galway and was educated at Coláiste Iognáid and University College Galway. Molloy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency at the 1965 general election.
In 1968, he was also elected Mayor of Galway. The following year he was appointed to the Cabinet as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education. From 1970 to 1973 he served as Minister for Local Government. When Fianna Fáil returned to power in 1977 he became Minister for Defence in the final government of Jack Lynch.
In 1979, Molloy supported George Colley in the Fianna Fáil leadership contest. However Charles Haughey was the eventual victor. After this Molloy was dropped from the Cabinet, becoming a member of the Gang of 22 who opposed Haughey's leadership of the party. In 1986 Molloy resigned from Fianna Fáil and joined the newly formed Progressive Democrats.
In 1989, the party entered into coalition with Fianna Fáil, with Molloy becoming Minister for Energy. That same year he contested the European Parliament Elections but was unsuccessful in his attempt. He stood at the European Parliament elections again in 1994 but was again unsuccessful. Following the 1997 general election, Molloy helped in the negotiations for forming the coalition government between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil. On that occasion, he became Minister of State at the Department of the Environment.
Molloy retired from politics just before the 2002 general election amid controversy regarding constituency letters intervening in the rape case of Barbara Naughton.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - David Andrews
David Andrews
Andrews was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1965 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown constituency. From 1970 to 1973, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Chief Whip.
Following four years in opposition Jack Lynch and Fianna Fáil were back in power in 1977, and Andrews was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. In the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election, Andrews supported George Colley, the favoured candidate of the existing leadership. However, Charles Haughey, in a very close vote, was elected leader and Taoiseach.
Andrews paid for backing Colley in the leadership bid, being confined to the backbenches during Haughey's thirteen-year period as leader. During this period, he maintained his legal practice and campaigned for the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six, and Brian Keenan. He remained a vocal critic of Haughey during this period. After the Progressive Democrats were founded in 1985 Andrews considered joining the new party.
In 1992, Albert Reynolds replaced Haughey as Taoiseach and Andrews was briefly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, vacating this position to Dick Spring, Tánaiste and Labour Party leader, after a subsequent election. Andrews was then appointed Minister for Defence and the Marine. In 1997, subsequent to a general election, Fianna Fáil were back in coalition with the Progressive Democrats, with Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. Andrews was first appointed Minister for Defence, subsequently, after the resignation of Ray Burke becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs.
His period as foreign minister was successful regarding the Northern Ireland peace talks. In April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was adopted by the people of the Republic and Northern Ireland.
In 1999, Ireland joined the Partnership for Peace project. Andrews retired as Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2000. He retired from Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election, his son Barry was elected for the Dún Laoghaire constituency, his other son David Andrews, Jnr is a comedian who works under the pseudonym of David McSavage. His brother, Niall Andrews, was a TD and MEP. On retirement from politics, he was appointed Chairman of the insurance company, MGM International.
In May 2000, he was appointed to the non-executive position as Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Society, serving in that position until 2009.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Dr. John F. O'Connell
Dr. John F. O'Connell
John Francis O'Connell (20 January 1927 – 8 March 2013) was an Irish politician, who was first elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) in 1965 and was returned at each election until 1987, latterly for Fianna Fáil after a time as an independent. He served in Seanad Éireann from 1987 to 1989 and then returned to the Dáil until he resigned in 1993. He also served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1981 to 1982, as Minister for Health (1992–1993) and as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1979 to 1981.
O'Connell was born in Dublin and educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S. in Glasnevin and the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. In 1960 O'Connell founded MIMS Ireland, a well-known monthly index of medical specialties, and in 1967 he founded the Irish Medical Times, a weekly broadsheet for doctors.
He began his political career when he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party TD for Dublin South–West at the 1965 general election. He held a seat for the Party until the 1981 general election when he was expelled for refusing to stand in the Dublin West constituency. Instead he stood as an independent in Dublin South–Central, opposing the Labour leader, Frank Cluskey. O'Connell, always a large vote-getter, easily topped the poll and Cluskey lost his Dáil seat.
O'Connell was then elected as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, and resigned from the European Parliament, to which he had been elected as an MEP for the Dublin constituency in the first direct elections in 1979. O'Connell's election to the first directly elected European Parliament in 1979 was an extraordinary achievement for the Labour Party as, along with Michael O'Leary, O'Connell won two seats out of four for Labour. He remained as Ceann Comhairle until December 1982, being returned automatically in the two elections of 1982. In 1983 he became a member of Fianna Fáil, representing the party until he lost his Dáil seat at the 1987 general election. That year he was one of those nominated by the Taoiseach Charles Haughey to the 18th Seanad Éireann, serving until he regained his Dáil seat at the 1989 general election.
O'Connell supported Albert Reynolds after he resigned from the Cabinet and is seen as one who persuaded Haughey to resign when he did. O'Connell was appointed Minister for Health by Reynolds in 1992. O'Connell remained as Minister for Health until 1993, when he resigned from the Dáil and the Cabinet due to ill health.
Further controversy surrounded O'Connell's relationship with Charles Haughey in later years, when it was revealed during the Moriarty Tribunal that O'Connell was the conduit of moneys between Arab tycoon Mahmoud Fustok and Haughey, and it was further revealed that O'Connell had invested a significant sum in Celtic Helicopters, a business venture owned by Haughey's son Ciaran.
In the 1970s, he arranged a meeting in his home between Harold Wilson MP, then leader of the British Labour Party, and Dáithí Ó Conaill, member of the Provisional IRA army council. Negotiations that night to broker a ceasefire were successful in the short term, but ultimately broke down.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Joseph (Joe) Dowling
Joseph (Joe) Dowling (born 2 February 1922) is a retired Irish Fianna Fáil politician. An auctioneer before entering politics, Dowling was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South–West constituency at the 1965 general election having previously stood at the 1961 general election. Dowling held his seat at every subsequent election until he lost it at the 1977 general election in the new Dublin Ballyfermot constituency. He was then elected to Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Ben Briscoe
Ben Briscoe
Ben Briscoe (born 11 March 1934) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for 37 years, representing a series of constituencies in Dublin.
At the 1992 general election, Ben Briscoe was involved in a marathon recount battle with Democratic Left's Eric Byrne to decide the fate of the final seat in Dublin South–Central. Briscoe was declared the victor after ten days of re-counting and re-checking ballot papers, leading to Briscoe describing the long count as being like "the agony and the ex-TD."
Briscoe was sometimes critical of the leader of Fianna Fáil in the 1980s, once describing Charles Haughey leadership as a "Fascist Dictatorship". He fronted a quietly discontented anti-Haughey faction within the Parliamentary Party, which included Charlie McCreevy, during the Haughey's time as Taoiseach.
In 1988–1989 he was Lord Mayor of Dublin, a post previously held by his father Robert. His term covered the second half of Dublin's Millenium Year 1988. Briscoe described his selection as Lord Mayor of Dublin as "one of the proudest moments of my life" following the City Council making him Lord Mayor.
The Molly Malone statue on Grafton Street, was unveiled by Briscoe during 1988, the Dublin Millennium celebrations, declaring 13 June officially as Molly Malone Day.
Briscoe is one of Ireland's most famous Jewish politicians. The small Irish Jewish community have been enthusiastic and active participants in political and legal world. Briscoe's father was one of several Jews involved in the War of Independence and Sinn Féin movements, which led to the Jewish community being targeted by British occupation forces. In Briscoe's time each of the three main political parties had a Jewish member in Ireland's 166-member Dáil.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Seán Moore
Seán Moore (19 May 1913 – 1 October 1986) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.
Seán Moore was born in Dublin in 1913 and grew up in Irishtown, Dublin. He was educated at the Vocational School in Ringsend and University College Dublin where he received a diploma in Social and Economic Science. He worked as an official with the Alliance and Dublin Consumers' Gas Company before becoming involved in politics. Moore first became involved in politics in 1950 when he was elected to Dublin City Council, a position he would hold until 1979. He served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1963–64. Moore was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) on his third attempt at the 1965 general election, representing the Dublin South–East constituency in the 18th Dáil.
In 1979, Charles Haughey came to power and Moore became Government Chief Whip. His health declined during this period, so much so that the Assistant Chief Whip, Bertie Ahern, was doing most of Moore's work. He served in that position until Fianna Fáil lost power at the 1981 general election and remained in the Dáil until he lost his seat at the February 1982 general election. He fought one further general election in November 1982 but failed to be elected, and subsequently retired from politics.
Seán Moore Road and Seán Moore Park near Irishtown is named after him.
Seán Moore was born in Dublin in 1913 and grew up in Irishtown, Dublin. He was educated at the Vocational School in Ringsend and University College Dublin where he received a diploma in Social and Economic Science. He worked as an official with the Alliance and Dublin Consumers' Gas Company before becoming involved in politics. Moore first became involved in politics in 1950 when he was elected to Dublin City Council, a position he would hold until 1979. He served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1963–64. Moore was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) on his third attempt at the 1965 general election, representing the Dublin South–East constituency in the 18th Dáil.
In 1979, Charles Haughey came to power and Moore became Government Chief Whip. His health declined during this period, so much so that the Assistant Chief Whip, Bertie Ahern, was doing most of Moore's work. He served in that position until Fianna Fáil lost power at the 1981 general election and remained in the Dáil until he lost his seat at the February 1982 general election. He fought one further general election in November 1982 but failed to be elected, and subsequently retired from politics.
Seán Moore Road and Seán Moore Park near Irishtown is named after him.
Members of the Eighteenth Dáil - Thomas J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central)
Thomas J. "Tom" Fitzpatrick (born 29 July 1926) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected six times as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South–Central and Dublin Central constituencies.
A former publican and owner of "The Terenure Inn", Fitzpatrick was first a candidate for Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election in the Dublin South–Central constituency. He was unsuccessful then, but at the 1965 general election he was returned to the 18th Dáil. After boundary changes, he stood in Dublin Central at the 1969 general election, where he was elected to the 19th Dáil, and returned again at the 1973 general election. After further boundary changes he stood again in Dublin South–Central at the 1977 general election, and was re-elected on two further occasions before being defeated at the November 1982 general election.
In the 21st Dáil, he was briefly a Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Power and at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, from July 1977 to January 1978.
A former publican and owner of "The Terenure Inn", Fitzpatrick was first a candidate for Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election in the Dublin South–Central constituency. He was unsuccessful then, but at the 1965 general election he was returned to the 18th Dáil. After boundary changes, he stood in Dublin Central at the 1969 general election, where he was elected to the 19th Dáil, and returned again at the 1973 general election. After further boundary changes he stood again in Dublin South–Central at the 1977 general election, and was re-elected on two further occasions before being defeated at the November 1982 general election.
In the 21st Dáil, he was briefly a Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Power and at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, from July 1977 to January 1978.
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