Ben Briscoe
Encyclopedia
Ben Briscoe is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician.
(TD) for 37 years, representing a series of constituencies in Dublin.
Briscoe was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1965 General Election
, for the Dublin South West
constituency, succeeding his father, Robert Briscoe
who had been a TD for 38 years. He was elected at the 1969 General Election
for Dublin South Central
, where he was re-elected in 1973
, and after major bouundary changes for the 1977 election
, he was elected for the new Dublin Rathmines West
constituency. That seat was abolished for the 1981 General Election
, when he was returned for the re-established Dublin South Central constituency, which he held until he retired at the 2002 General Election
.
In 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 his quote "the agony and the ex-TD." It was the first time that an original result was over-turned in an election in the modern Irish state.
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 campaign of a quietly discontented anti-Haughey faction which included Charlie McCreevy
during the Taoiseach
's years in office within the Parliamentary Party.
, a post previously held by his father Robert
.
Ben Briscoe, while Lord Mayor of Dublin, famously paid a visit to Martin Cahill
tent and persuaded him to move into a new house in a more upscale district of Rathmines. In 1978, the Dublin Corporation began preparing to demolish Hollyfield Buildings. Cahill, then serving a four-year prison sentence, fought through the courts to prevent his neighborhood's destruction. Even after the tenements were demolished, he continued to live in a pitched tent on the site.
The Molly Malone
statue on Grafton Street, was unveiled by then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Ben Briscoe during 1988 the Dublin Millennium
celebrations, declaring June 13 officially as Molly Malone Day..
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. Ireland was the first country to specifically guarantee the rights of the Jewish religion in its constitution, significantly drawn up in 1937. Jack Lynch
later introduced the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
Act of 1973 officially removed the Roman Catholic Church as the state church in equal recognition of other religions including the Jewish Congregations.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician.
Member of Dáil Éireann
He was a Teachta DálaTeachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for 37 years, representing a series of constituencies in Dublin.
Briscoe was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 1965 General Election
Irish general election, 1965
The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, for the Dublin South West
Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency, succeeding his father, Robert Briscoe
Robert Briscoe (politician)
Robert Briscoe , known as Bob Briscoe was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála in the Oireachtas from 1927 to 1965.- Family :...
who had been a TD for 38 years. He was elected at the 1969 General Election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
for Dublin South Central
Dublin South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
, where he was re-elected in 1973
Irish general election, 1973
The Irish general election of 1973 was held on 28 February 1973. The newly elected 144 members of the 20th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 4 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, and after major bouundary changes for the 1977 election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
, he was elected for the new Dublin Rathmines West
Dublin Rathmines West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Rathmines West was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981...
constituency. That seat was abolished for the 1981 General Election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, when he was returned for the re-established Dublin South Central constituency, which he held until he retired at the 2002 General Election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
.
In the 1992 General Election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
Ben Briscoe was involved in a marathon recount battle with Democratic Left
Democratic Left
Democratic Left, Democratic Left Party, or Party of the Democratic Left may refer to:-Political parties:*Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left...
's Eric Byrne
Eric Byrne
Eric Byrne is an Irish Labour Party politician and is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency.He was formerly a member of Sinn Féin the Workers Party, the Workers' Party and Democratic Left...
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 his quote "the agony and the ex-TD." It was the first time that an original result was over-turned in an election in the modern Irish state.
Briscoe was sometimes critical of the leader of Fianna Fáil in the 1980s, once describing Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
leadership as a "Fascist Dictatorship". He fronted a campaign of a quietly discontented anti-Haughey faction which included Charlie McCreevy
Charlie McCreevy
Charles "Charlie" McCreevy is a former Irish politician. He was the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2004–2010. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1977 and held the seat in Kildare until 2004 when he became Ireland's European Commissioner...
during the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
's years in office within the Parliamentary Party.
Lord Mayor of Dublin
In 1988–1989 he was Lord Mayor of DublinLord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
, a post previously held by his father Robert
Robert Briscoe (politician)
Robert Briscoe , known as Bob Briscoe was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála in the Oireachtas from 1927 to 1965.- Family :...
.
Ben Briscoe, while Lord Mayor of Dublin, famously paid a visit to Martin Cahill
Martin Cahill
Martin "The General" Cahill was a prominent Irish criminal from Dublin.Cahill generated a certain notoriety in the media, which referred to him by the sobriquet "The General". The name was also used by the media in order to discuss Cahill's activities while avoiding legal problems with libel...
tent and persuaded him to move into a new house in a more upscale district of Rathmines. In 1978, the Dublin Corporation began preparing to demolish Hollyfield Buildings. Cahill, then serving a four-year prison sentence, fought through the courts to prevent his neighborhood's destruction. Even after the tenements were demolished, he continued to live in a pitched tent on the site.
The Molly Malone
Molly Malone
"Molly Malone" is a popular song, set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City....
statue on Grafton Street, was unveiled by then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Ben Briscoe during 1988 the Dublin Millennium
History of Dublin
The City of Dublin can trace its origin back more than 1,000 years, and for much of this time it has been Ireland's principal city and the cultural, educational and industrial centre of the island.-Founding and early history:...
celebrations, declaring June 13 officially as Molly Malone Day..
Family Political Tradition
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 IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
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. Ireland was the first country to specifically guarantee the rights of the Jewish religion in its constitution, significantly drawn up in 1937. Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
later introduced the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland removed from the constitution a controversial reference to the "special position" of the Roman Catholic Church as well as recognition of certain other named religious denominations...
Act of 1973 officially removed the Roman Catholic Church as the state church in equal recognition of other religions including the Jewish Congregations.