Phelim O'Neill, 2nd Baron Rathcavan

Phelim Robert Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Baron Rathcavan (2 November 1909 - 20 December 1994) was a politician in Northern Ireland and a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

The son of Hugh O'Neill, a Unionist politician, Phelim studied at Eton College before joining the Royal Artillery. He became a Major during World War II.

O'Neill was elected to Westminster for the Ulster Unionist Party at the North Antrim by-election, 1952, succeeding his father. He stood down at the UK general election, 1959. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1958, he was elected, again to represent North Antrim. In 1969, he briefly served as Minister of Education before becoming the Minister of Agriculture.

O'Neill joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland in 1972, and acted as its leader at the Darlington Conference. At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973, he was unsuccessful in North Antrim. In 1982, he succeeded his father as the second Baron Rathcavan.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Hugh O'Neill	Member of Parliament for North Antrim 1952–1959	Succeeded by Henry Maitland Clark
Parliament of Northern Ireland
Preceded by William McCleery	Member of Parliament for North Antrim 1958 - 1972	Succeeded by Position prorogued 1972 Parliament Abolished 1973
Political offices
Preceded by William Fitzsimmons	Minister of Education 1969	Succeeded by William Joseph Long
Preceded by James Chichester-Clark	Minister of Agriculture 1969 - 1971	Succeeded by Harry West
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Hugh O'Neill	Baron Rathcavan 1982–1994	Succeeded by Hugh O'Neill

v • d • e Leaders of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Phelim O'Neill (1972, acting) · Oliver Napier (1972-1984) · John Cushnahan (1984-1987) · John Alderdice (1987-1998) · Séan Neeson (1998-2001) · David Ford (2001-present)

Searching reference...