Séamus Kirk

Irish former Fianna Fáil politician (born 1945)

1987–1992Agriculture and FoodTeachta DálaIn office
November 1982 – February 2016ConstituencyLouth Personal detailsBorn (1945-04-26) 26 April 1945 (age 79)
Drumkeith, County Louth, IrelandPolitical partyFianna FáilSpouseMary McGeoughChildren4Alma materUniversity College Galway

Séamus Kirk (born 26 April 1945) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2009 to 2011 and a Minister of State from 1987 to 1992. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 1982 to 2016.[1]

Background

Kirk was born in Drumkeith, County Louth. He is married to Mary McGeough. They have three sons and one daughter and live in Knockbridge, County Louth. He was educated at CBS Dundalk. He was a farmer and agricultural adviser before entering politics. He is a former footballer who played for the Louth county team.[citation needed]

Political career

He was a member of Louth County Council from 1974 to 1985, and he was first elected to the Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a member of the 24th Dáil. He was returned in each subsequent election until his retirement.[2]

Kirk was Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1987 to 1992.[3] He served as chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party from 2002 until October 2009. At the 2004 European Parliament election, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the East constituency. His running mate Liam Aylward took a seat for Fianna Fáil.

On 13 October 2009, Kirk succeeded John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle[4] after O'Donoghue resigned over an expenses scandal. He was nominated for that post by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and seconded by Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, and he defeated Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley by 87 votes to 51 votes. McGinley had been nominated by his party's leader, Enda Kenny.[5]

In September 2014, he announced he would not be contesting the 2016 general election.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Séamus Kirk". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Séamus Kirk". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  3. ^ Agriculture and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 164 of 1987). Signed on 26 June 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Kirk elected Ceann Comhairle". The Irish Times. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Kirk succeeds O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle". RTÉ News. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Louth TD Kirk will not contest next general election". Irish Examiner. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2015.

External links

  • Séamus Kirk's page on the Fianna Fáil website
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food
1987–1992
With: Joe Walsh
Succeeded by
John Browne
Liam Hyland
Preceded by
John O'Donoghue
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
2009–2011
Succeeded by
Seán Barrett
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party
2002–2009
Succeeded by
John Browne
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Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for the Louth constituency
This table is transcluded from Louth (Dáil constituency). (edit | history)
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
4th 1923 Frank Aiken
(Rep)
James Murphy
(CnaG)
Peter Hughes
(CnaG)
3 seats
until 1977
5th 1927 (Jun) Frank Aiken
(FF)
James Coburn
(NL)
6th 1927 (Sep)
7th 1932 James Coburn
(Ind)
8th 1933
9th 1937 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
James Coburn
(FG)
10th 1938
11th 1943 Roddy Connolly
(Lab)
12th 1944 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
13th 1948 Roddy Connolly
(Lab)
14th 1951 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
1954 by-election George Coburn
(FG)
15th 1954 Paddy Donegan
(FG)
16th 1957 Pádraig Faulkner[a]
(FF)
17th 1961 Paddy Donegan
(FG)
18th 1965
19th 1969
20th 1973 Joseph Farrell
(FF)
21st 1977 Eddie Filgate
(FF)
4 seats
1977–2011
22nd 1981 Paddy Agnew
(AHB)
Bernard Markey
(FG)
23rd 1982 (Feb) Thomas Bellew
(FF)
24th 1982 (Nov) Michael Bell
(Lab)
Séamus Kirk[b]
(FF)
Brendan McGahon
(FG)
25th 1987 Dermot Ahern
(FF)
26th 1989
27th 1992
28th 1997
29th 2002 Arthur Morgan
(SF)
Fergus O'Dowd
(FG)
30th 2007
31st 2011 Gerry Adams
(SF)
Ged Nash
(Lab)
Peter Fitzpatrick
(FG)
32nd 2016 Declan Breathnach
(FF)
Imelda Munster
(SF)
33rd 2020 Ruairí Ó Murchú
(SF)
Ged Nash
(Lab)
Peter Fitzpatrick
(Ind)
  1. ^ Faulker served as Ceann Comhairle in the 21st Dáil from 1977 to 1981, and was returned automatically at the 1981 election.
  2. ^ Kirk served as Ceann Comhairle in the 30th Dáil from 2009 to 2011, and was returned automatically at the 2011 election.
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