Brendan Ryan
Encyclopedia
Brendan Ryan is an Irish
politician and former member of Seanad Éireann
for the National University of Ireland constituency
. He was an independent
Senator until 1999, when he joined the Labour Party.
Born in Athy
, County Kildare
, Ryan's political interest arises from his involvement in the 1970s and 80s with The Simon Community, an organisation which works with and for homeless people.
He was first elected in 1981 to the 16th Seanad by graduates of the National University of Ireland
in 1981, defeating Professor Augustine Martin
. His election was welcomed by an editorial in The Irish Times
as "one of the best deeds in a naughty world". The paper noted that "the graduates of the National University of Ireland, the privileged as many would see them, the people who have had the inestimable gift of university education, gave their vote to a man who had devoted his life wholeheartedly to the Simon Community — Mr. Brendan Ryan".
He was a member of the Senate from 1981 until his defat at the 1993 election to the 20th Seanad. He was re-elected to the 1997 to the 21st Seanad, and was a member until he lost his seat in 2007.
In 1999, Ryan he stood as a Labour Party candidate in the European Parliament election
for the Munster
constituency, and in the 2002 general election
, he stood in the Cork South Central
constituency. He was unsuccessful on both occasions.
Ryan is a lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the Cork Institute of Technology
. In 1995 he wrote "Keeping Us In The Dark", a book concerning censorship of freedom of information in Ireland. He also writes a weekly column for the Evening Echo
newspaper.
Ryan is a fluent speaker of the Irish language
. In May 2006, he introduced the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill 2006 http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2006/2306/b2306s.pdf in Seanad Éireann which aimed to provide a sound legislative basis for the State's delivery of heraldic services.
He lost his seat in the 2007 election to Seanad Éireann.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician and former member of Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
for the National University of Ireland constituency
National University of Ireland (constituency)
National University of Ireland is a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, through which graduates of the National University of Ireland have elected members of various legislative bodies including currently Seanad Éireann.-Summary:...
. He was an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Senator until 1999, when he joined the Labour Party.
Born in Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ryan's political interest arises from his involvement in the 1970s and 80s with The Simon Community, an organisation which works with and for homeless people.
He was first elected in 1981 to the 16th Seanad by graduates of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
in 1981, defeating Professor Augustine Martin
Augustine Martin
Thomas Augustine "Gus" Martin was an Irish academic, Anglo-Irish scholar, teacher, writer, broadcaster and literary critic...
. His election was welcomed by an editorial in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
as "one of the best deeds in a naughty world". The paper noted that "the graduates of the National University of Ireland, the privileged as many would see them, the people who have had the inestimable gift of university education, gave their vote to a man who had devoted his life wholeheartedly to the Simon Community — Mr. Brendan Ryan".
He was a member of the Senate from 1981 until his defat at the 1993 election to the 20th Seanad. He was re-elected to the 1997 to the 21st Seanad, and was a member until he lost his seat in 2007.
In 1999, Ryan he stood as a Labour Party candidate in the European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1999 (Ireland)
The 1999 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1999 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details :-See also:...
for the Munster
Munster (European Parliament constituency)
-1999 election :All sitting MEPs were re-elected.-1994 election:The constituency lost a seat and T. J. Maher and Gene Fitzgerald retired...
constituency, and in 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...
, he stood in the Cork South Central
Cork South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency. He was unsuccessful on both occasions.
Ryan is a lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology , formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, is an Institute of Technology in Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland opened in 1973. The institute has 17,000 students in art, business, engineering, music and science disciplines...
. In 1995 he wrote "Keeping Us In The Dark", a book concerning censorship of freedom of information in Ireland. He also writes a weekly column for the Evening Echo
Evening Echo
The Evening Echo is an Irish evening newspaper based in Cork. It is distributed throughout the province of Munster, although it is primarily read in its base city of Cork. In Limerick, an altered local edition of the paper is sold...
newspaper.
Ryan is a fluent speaker of the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. In May 2006, he introduced the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill 2006 http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2006/2306/b2306s.pdf in Seanad Éireann which aimed to provide a sound legislative basis for the State's delivery of heraldic services.
He lost his seat in the 2007 election to Seanad Éireann.
External links
- Brendan Ryan's website
- Brendan Ryan's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)