List of Irish politicians

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Republic of Ireland

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Ireland

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Other countries · Politics Portal
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This is an incomplete list of public-representative office-holders, elected and appointed, past and present, in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The offices covered are TDs, MEPs, Presidents, Councillors, MPs, Stormont MPs, Members of the Sunningdale Assembly (as Mem.NI.Assmb), MLAs, Senators, Commissioners and Members of the Irish House of Commons (as Mem IHC).

Holders of other offices, such as Kings-representative (ie Governors General) or historical offices such as High King of Ireland are listed in the Others section.

Contents

It should be remembered that not everyone born on the island of Ireland sees themselves as Irish, as is commonly assumed by outsiders. Particularly in Northern Ireland, some also regard themselves as British and/or do not regard themselves as Irish at all. In Northern Ireland in particular, there is no common consensus on what the term "Irish" entails. It should not be therefore assumed that all people on this list would consider themselves to be "Irish".

Party Membership is indicated by the colour below. It is the the same colour-scheme as used in all articles on Irish politics, for example: Members of the 29th Dáil.

Colour Party
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Talmhan
Cumann na nGaedhael
Democratic Left
Farmers Party
Fianna Fáil
Fine Gael
Green Party
Home Rule / IPP
Independent
Independent Fianna Fáil
Labour Party
National Centre Party
National Labour Party
National League
National Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
Sinn Féin
SDLP
Socialist Party
Workers Party

Name Born Died Party Office Term Notes
A
Henry Abbot unk. Fianna Fáil TD 1987-89
Carrie Acheson 1934 Fianna Fáil TD 1981-82
Gerry Adams 1948 Sinn Féin MP 1983-92 1997- Leader of Sinn Féin
MLA 1998-
Bertie Ahern 1951 Fianna Fáil TD 1977- TD for Dublin Central, Current Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader
Dermot Ahern 1955 Fianna Fáil TD 1987- TD for Louth Minister
Kit Ahern 1915 Fianna Fáil TD 1977-81 TD for Kerry North
Liam Ahern 1916 1974 Fianna Fáil TD 1969-74
Michael Ahern 1949 Fianna Fáil TD 1982- TD for Cork East
Noel Ahern 1944 Fianna Fáil TD 1992- TD for Dublin North West
Nuala Ahern 1949 Green Party MEP 1994-2004 MEP for Leinster constituency
Frank Aiken 1896 1983 Fianna Fáil TD 1923-73 Tánaiste (1965-1969)
Bernard Allen 1944 Fine Gael TD 1981- TD for Cork North Central
Denis Allen 1896 1961 Fianna Fáil TD 1932-33 1944-61
Lorcan Allen unk. Fianna Fáil TD 1961-82
Barry Andrews 1967 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dún Laoghaire
David Andrews 1936 Fianna Fáil TD 1965-2002 Minister for Foreign Affairs (1998-2000)
Niall Andrews 1937 2006 Fianna Fáil TD 1977-87
MEP 1984-2004
Seán Ardagh 1947 Fianna Fáil TD 1997- TD for Dublin South Central
Liam Aylward 1952 Fianna Fáil TD 1977- TD for Carlow-Kilkenny
MEP 2004-
B
Mary Banotti 1939 Fine Gael MEP 1984-2004 Candidate in the Irish presidential election, 1997
Monica Barnes 1936 Fine Gael TD 1982-2002 TD & Senator
Michael Barrett 1927 2006 Fianna Fáil TD
Seán Barrett 1944 Fine Gael TD 1981-2002 Minister for Defence (1995-1997)
Sylvester Barrett 1926 2002 Fianna Fáil TD 1968-87 Minister
MEP 1984-89
Peter Barry 1928 Fine Gael TD 1969-97 Minister for Foreign Affairs (1982-1987)
George Bartley Fianna Fáil TD
Gerald Bartley 1898 1974 Fianna Fáil TD 1932-65 Minister
Patrick Beegan 1895 1958 Fianna Fáil TD
Thomas Bellew Fianna Fáil TD
Patrick Belton Fianna Fáil TD
Niamh Bhreathnach 1945 Labour Party TD 1992-97 Minister for Education (1993-1997)
Harry Blaney 1928 Ind. FF TD 1997-2002
Neal Blaney 1893 1948 Fianna Fáil TD
Neil Blaney 1922 1995 Fianna Fáil TD 1948-71 Minister for Agriculture (1966-1970)
Ind. FF TD 1971-95
MEP 1979-84 1989-94
Niall Blaney 1974 Fianna Fáil TD 2002-06
Ind. FF TD 2006-
Ernest Blythe 1889 1975 Sinn Féin TD 1918-23 Minister for Finance (1923-1932)
CnaG TD 1923-33
Fine Gael Senator 1933-36
Gerald Boland 1885 1973 Sinn Féin TD 1923-26 Minister for Posts & Telegraphs
Fianna Fáil TD 1926-61
Senator 1961-69
Kevin Boland 1917 2001 Fianna Fáil TD 1957-70 Minister for Local Government
Dan Boyle 1962 Green Party TD 2002- TD for Cork South Central
Gerard Brady 1936 Fianna Fáil TD
Johnny Brady 1948 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Meath
Martin Brady 1947 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin North East
Vincent Brady 1936 Fianna Fáil TD
Pat Breen 1957 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Clare
Joseph Brennan 1913 1980 Fianna Fáil TD
Séamus Brennan 1948 Fianna Fáil Senator 1977-81 TD for Dublin South, Minister for Transport (2002-2004)
TD 1981-
Ben Briscoe 1934 Fianna Fáil TD 1965-2002
Bob Briscoe 1894 1969 Fianna Fáil TD 1927-65
John Browne 1948 Fianna Fáil TD 1982- TD for Wexford
John Browne 1936 Fine Gael TD 1989-2002 TD for Carlow-Kilkenny
Noel Browne 1915 1997 CnaP TD 1948-51 Controversial Health Minister (1948-51)
Independent TD 1951-53
Fianna Fáil TD 1953-54
Ind./Progressive TD 1957-63
Labour Party TD 1963-65 1969-73
Independent Senator 1973-77
Ind./Socialist TD 1977-82
Cathal Brugha 1874 1922 Sinn Féin TD 1918-22 Minister for Defence in the 1st Dáil
Ruairí Brugha 1917 2006 Fianna Fáil TD 1973-77 Also Senator, MEP
John Bruton 1947 Fine Gael TD 1969-2004 TD for Meath, Taoiseach (1994-1997), Party leader
Richard Bruton 1953 Fine Gael TD 1982- TD for Dublin North Central, Deputy-Leader
Liam Burke 1928 2005 Fine Gael TD 1969-77 1979-89 1992-2002
P.J. Burke Fianna Fáil TD
Ray Burke 1943 Fianna Fáil TD 1973-97 Minister for Foreign Affairs, jailed 2005 for tax fraud
Richard Burke 1932 Fine Gael TD 1969-77 Minister and European Commissioner (1977-1980)
Commissioner 1977-80 1982-84
Isaac Butt 1813 1879 Home Rule MP 1874-79 Founder and leader
C
Joe Callanan 1949 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Galway East
Johnny Callanan 1910 1982 Fianna Fáil TD
Ivor Callely 1958 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin North Central
Pat Carey 1947 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin North West
John Carty 1950 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Mayo
Michael Carty 1916 1975 Fianna Fáil TD
Donie Cassidy 1945 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Westmeath
Erskine H. Childers 1905 1974 Fianna Fáil TD 1938-73 Fourth President of Ireland
President 1973-74
Kathleen Clarke 1878 1972 Sinn Féin TD 1921-36 First female Lord Mayor of Dublin (1939)
Frank Cluskey 1930 1989 Labour Party TD 1965-81 1982-89 Labour Party Leader (1977-1981)
George Colley 1925 1983 Fianna Fáil TD 1961-83 Tánaiste (1977-1981)
Henry Colley 1891 1972 Fianna Fáil TD
Gerard Collins 1938 Fianna Fáil TD 1967-97 Minister for Foreign Affairs
MEP 1994-2004
Michael Collins 1941 Fianna Fáil TD TD for Limerick West
Michael Collins 1890 1922 Sinn Féin TD 1918-22 Assassinated Chairman of the Provisional Government
Paul Connaughton 1944 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Galway East
Brendan Corish 1918 1990 Labour Party TD 1945-82 Labour Party Leader, Tánaiste (1973-1977)
Liam Cosgrave 1920 Fine Gael TD 1944-81 Taoiseach (1973-1977)
W. T. Cosgrave 1880 1965 Sinn Féin TD 1918-23 President of the Executive Council (1923-1932)
CnaG TD 1923-33
Fine Gael TD 1933-44
John A. Costello 1891 1976 Fine Gael TD 1933-61 Taoiseach (1948-1951 & 1954-1957)
Cathal Coughlan 1937 1986 Fianna Fáil TD
Clement Coughlan 1942 1983 Fianna Fáil TD
Mary Coughlan 1965 Fianna Fáil TD 1987- TD for Donegal South West, Minister for Social & Family Affairs (2002-2004)
Hugh Coveney 1935 1998 Fine Gael TD 1981-87 1994-98 TD for Cork South Central
Simon Coveney 1972 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Cork South Central
Ber Cowen 1932 1984 Fianna Fáil TD 1969-84
Brian Cowen 1960 Fianna Fáil TD 1984- TD for Laois-Offaly, Minister for Foreign Affairs/Finance
Pat Cox 1952 PD TD 1989-94 Former President of the European Parliament
MEP 1989-94
Independent MEP 1994-2004
Seymour Crawford 1944 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Cavan-Monaghan
John Cregan 1961 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Limerick West
Jerry Cronin Fianna Fáil TD
Brian Crowley 1964 Fianna Fáil MEP 1994-
Ciarán Cuffe 1963 Green Party TD 2002- TD for Dún Laoghaire
Martin Cullen 1954 PD TD 1987-89 TD for Waterford, Minister for the Environment & Local Government (2002-present)
Senator 1989-92
TD 1992-94
Fianna Fáil TD 1994-
James Curran Fianna Fáil TD
John Curran 1960 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin Mid West
Austin Currie 1939 Stormont MP 1964-72 Candidate in Irish presidential election, 1990
SDLP Mem. NI Assmb. 1973-75
Fine Gael TD 1989-2002
John Cushnahan 1948 Fine Gael MEP 1989-2004

Name Born Died Party Office Term Notes
D
Brendan Daly 1940 Fianna Fáil TD 1973-92 1997-2002 Minister for the Marine (1987-1989)
Senator 1992-97
Noel Davern 1945 Fianna Fáil TD 1969-81 1987- TD for Tipperary South Minister for Education (1991-1992)
MEP 1979-84
Austin Deasy 1936 Fine Gael Senator 1973-77 Minister for Agriculture (1982-1987)
TD 1977-2002
John Deasy 1967 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Waterford, son of Austin Deasy
Jimmy Deenihan 1952 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Kerry North
Noel Dempsey 1953 Fianna Fáil TD 1987- TD for Meath, Minister for Education & Science (2002-2004)
Tony Dempsey 1944 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Wexford
John Dennehy 1940 Fianna Fáil TD 1987- TD for Cork South Central
Proinsias De Rossa 1940 Workers Party TD 1982-92 Former leader of Workers Party and Democratic Left
MEP 1989-92
DL TD 1992-97
Labour Party TD 1997-2002
MEP 1999-
Barry Desmond 1935 Labour Party TD 1969-89 Minister for Social Welfare (1982-1987)
MEP 1989-94
Eileen Desmond 1932 2005 Labour Party TD 1965-69 1973-87 Minister for Health & Social Welfare (1981-1982)
Senator 1969-73
MEP 1979-81
Éamon de Valera 1882 1975 Sinn Féin TD 1918-26 Born in USA. Taoiseach (1932-1948, 1951-54, 1957-1959)
Fianna Fáil TD 1926-59
President 1959-73
Síle de Valera 1954 Fianna Fáil TD 1977-81 1987- TD for Clare, Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht (1997-2002)
MEP 1979-84
Vivion de Valera 1910 1982 Fianna Fáil TD 1945-81 Managing director of The Irish Press
Jimmy Devins 1948 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Sligo-Leitrim
James Dillon 1902 1986 Centre Party TD 1932-33 Fine Gael Leader (1959-1965)
Fine Gael TD 1933-42 1953-69
Independent TD 1942-53
John Dillon 1851 1927 IPP MP 1880-83 1885-1918 Leader Irish Parliamentary Party
Seán Doherty 1944 2005 Fianna Fáil TD 1977-89 1992-2002 Minister for Justice (1982)
Senator 1989-92
Paddy Donegan 1923 2000 Fine Gael TD 1954-57 1961-81 Minister for Defence (1973-1977)
James Dooge 1922 Fine Gael Senator 1961-77 1981-87 Minister for Foreign Affairs (1981-1982)
Avril Doyle 1949 Fine Gael MEP 1999-
TD 1982-89 1992-97
Alan Dukes 1945 Fine Gael TD 1981-2002 Leader (1987-1990)
Bernard Durkan 1945 Fine Gael TD 1981- TD for Kildare North
Mark Durkan 1960 SDLP MLA 1998- Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
MP 2005-
E
John Ellis 1952 Fianna Fáil TD 1981- TD for Sligo-Leitrim
Damien English 1975 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Meath
Olwyn Enright 1974 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Laois-Offaly
James Everett 1889 1967 Labour Party TD 1923-67
F
Frank Fahey 1951 Fianna Fáil TD 1982-92 1997- TD for Galway West, Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources (2000-2002)
Senator 1992-97
Jackie Fahey 1928 Fianna Fáil TD 1965-92
Frank Fahy 1880 1953 Fianna Fáil TD
Pádraig Faulkner 1918 Fianna Fáil TD
Martin Ferris 1958 Sinn Féin TD 2002- TD for Kerry North
Michael Finneran 1947 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Longford-Roscommon
Gerry Fitt 1926 2005 Labour Party Stormont MP 1962-64 First leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Rep. Labour Stormont MP 1964-unk.
MP 1966-73
SDLP MP 1973-79
Independent MP 1979-83
Desmond FitzGerald 1888 1947 Sinn Féin TD 1918-23 Minister for External Affairs (1923-1927)
CnaG TD 1923-33
Fine Gael TD 1933-38
Senator 1938-43
Garret FitzGerald 1926 Fine Gael Senator 1965-69 Taoiseach (1981-82, 1982-87)
TD 1969-92
Gene FitzGerald 1932 Fianna Fáil TD
Dermot Fitzpatrick 1940 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin Central
Tom Fitzpatrick 1926 Fianna Fáil TD 1965-82 TD for Dublin Central and Dublin South Central
Tom Fitzpatrick 1918 2006 Fine Gael TD 1965-89 Fine Gael Minister, Ceann Comhairle
Jim Fitzsimons 1936 Fianna Fáil MEP 1984-2004
Oliver J. Flanagan 1920 1987 Fine Gael TD 1943-87 Minister for Defence (1976-1977)
Seán Flanagan 1922 1993 Fianna Fáil TD 1951-77 Minister
MEP 1979-89
Seán Fleming 1958 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Laois-Offaly
Beverley Flynn 1966 Fianna Fáil TD 1997-99 2002-04 Daughter of Pádraig Flynn
Independent TD 1999-2002 2004-
Pádraig Flynn 1939 Fianna Fáil TD 1977-93 Minister for the Environment (1987-1991)
Commissioner 1993-99
Denis Foley 1934 Fianna Fáil TD -2002 TD for Kerry North
Johnny Fox 1948 1995 Independent TD 1992-96
Mildred Fox 1971 Independent TD 1996-
G
Denis Gallagher 1922 2001 Fianna Fáil TD 1973-89 Minister
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 1948 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Donegal South West
Roger Garland 1933 Green Party TD TD for Dublin South (1989-1992)
James Geoghegan 1886 1951 Fianna Fáil TD
Johnny Geoghegan 1913 1975 Fianna Fáil TD
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn 1950 Fianna Fáil TD 1975-97 Minister for Justice (1993-1994)
Jim Gibbons 1924 1997 Fianna Fáil TD 1957-82 Minister for Defence (1969-1970)
Alan Gillis Fine Gael MEP 1994-99
Alice Glenn 1927 Fine Gael TD 1981-182, 1982-1987 TD for Dublin Central
Jim Glennon 1953 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin North
Paul Gogarty 1968 Green Party TD 2002- TD for Dublin Mid West
John Gormley 1959 Green Party TD 2002- TD for Dublin South Central
Henry Grattan 1746 1820 National Party Mem. IHC 1775-97
1800		 18th century defender of Irish parliamentary independence and opponent of the Act of Union
Whig MP 1805-20
Noel Grealish 1965 PD TD 2002-
Tony Gregory 1947 Independent TD 1982- Supporter of Fianna Fáil government (1982)
Arthur Griffith 1871 1922 Sinn Féin TD 1918-22 President of Dáil Éireann (Jan-Aug 1922) & 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty delegation leader

Name Born Died Party Office Term Notes
H
Mary Hanafin 1959 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dún Laoghaire
Marian Harkin 1953 Independent TD 2002-
Independent MEP 2004-
Mary Harney 1953 PD TD Tánaiste, Progressive Democrats leader
Charles Haughey 1925 2006 Fianna Fáil TD 1957-92 Taoiseach (1979-81, 1982, 1987-92)
Seán Haughey 1961 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin North Central
Michael Hayes 1889 1976 CnaG TD Ceann Comhairle (1922-1932)
Tom Hayes 1952 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Tipperary South
Tim Healy 1885 1931 MP First Governor-General of the Irish Free State
Jackie Healy-Rae 1931 Independent TD 1997- TD for Kerry South
Joe Higgins 1949 Socialist TD
Jim Higgins 1945 Fine Gael TD -2002
Michael D. Higgins 1941 Labour Party TD Minister Arts, Culture & Gaeltacht (1994-1997)
Patrick Hillery 1923 Fianna Fáil President 1976-90 Sixth President of Ireland
Michael Hilliard 1903 1982 Fianna Fáil TD Minister
Fianna Fáil MEP
Máire Hoctor 1963 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Tipperary North
Patrick Hogan Fine Gael TD 1961-73
Patrick Hogan 1886 1969 Labour Party TD Ceann Comhairle (1951-1967)
Patrick Hogan 1891 1937 Fine Gael TD 1921-37
Phil Hogan 1960 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Carlow-Kilkenny
Brendan Howlin 1956 Labour Party TD 1987- Min. for Health(1993-1994), Minister for the Environment (1994-1997)
John Hume 1937 SDLP Leader Social Democratic and Labour Party (1979-2001)
Gemma Hussey 1938 Fine Gael TD Minister for Education (1982-86)
Douglas Hyde 1860 1949 President 1938-1945 Founder Gaelic League, first President of Ireland
Liam Hyland 1933 Fianna Fáil MEP 1994-2004
J
Joe Jacob 1939 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Wicklow
Thomas Johnson 1872 1963 Labour Party TD First Labour Party leader
K
Liam Kavanagh 1935 Labour Party TD Minister for the Environment (1983-1986)
Justin Keating 1930 Labour Party TD Minister for Industry & Commerce (1973-1977)
Cecilia Keaveney 1968 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Donegal North East
Paul Kehoe 1973 Fine Gael TD 2002- TD for Wexford
Billy Kelleher 1968 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Cork North Central
Peter Kelly 1944 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Longford-Roscommon
Jim Kemmy 1936 1997 Labour Party TD Founder of the Democratic Socialist Party
Enda Kenny 1951 Fine Gael TD TD for Mayo, Fine Gael Leader (2002-present)
Tony Killeen 1952 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Clare
Mark Killilea, Snr 1896 1970 Fianna Fáil TD
Mark Killilea, Jnr 1939 Fianna Fáil MEP 1989-99
Séamus Kirk 1945 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Louth
Eamonn Kissane unk. 1979 Fianna Fáil TD
Michael F. Kitt 1914 1974 Fianna Fáil TD
Michael P. Kitt 1950 Fianna Fáil TD
Tom Kitt 1952 Fianna Fáil TD 2002- TD for Dublin South
L
Patrick Lalor 1926 Fianna Fáil TD Minister for Posts & Telegraphs
Fianna Fáil MEP
Liam Lawlor 1945 2005 Fianna Fáil TD Spent a term in jail for corruption
Eileen Lemass 1932 Fianna Fáil TD
Noel Lemass, Jnr 1929 1976 Fianna Fáil TD
Sean Lemass 1899 1971