Harry Blaney
Encyclopedia
Harry Blaney is a retired Irish
Independent Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the constituency of Donegal North East
. He is a son of Neal Blaney
, who was a TD from 1927 to 1948.
Blaney was defeated by Cecilia Keaveney
of Fianna Fáil
in the April 1996 by-election resulting from the 1995 death of his brother, Neil Blaney
. In 1997, he was elected to Dáil Éireann
in the 1997 General Election
, defeating Paddy Harte
. He retired at age 74 at the 2002 General Election
after serving one term. At that time he and Liam Burke
shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.
He was succeeded by his own son, Niall Blaney
.
His support for the 1997 Ahern Government
led to the construction of the Harry Blaney Bridge, which opened in 2009 to link the Rosguill
and Fanad
peninsulas across Mulroy Bay
in north County Donegal
.
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,...
Independent Fianna Fáil
Independent Fianna Fáil
Independent Fianna Fáil was a splinter republican party created by Neil Blaney after his expulsion from Fianna Fáil following the Irish Arms Crisis . It ceased to exist on 26 July 2006...
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
Teachta 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 the constituency of Donegal North East
Donegal North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Donegal North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
. He is a son of Neal Blaney
Neal Blaney
Neal Blaney was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, and long-serving member of the Oireachtas.Blaney, a native of Fanad in the north of County Donegal, had been a commander of the IRA in Donegal during the War of Independence and the Civil War...
, who was a TD from 1927 to 1948.
Blaney was defeated by Cecilia Keaveney
Cecilia Keaveney
Cecilia Keaveney is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. She was a Teachta Dála and also a Senator from 1996 to 2011.-Early life:...
of 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...
in the April 1996 by-election resulting from the 1995 death of his brother, Neil Blaney
Neil Blaney
Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...
. In 1997, he was 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...
in the 1997 General Election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, defeating Paddy Harte
Paddy Harte
Paddy Harte, Honorary OBE, Honorary LLD is a retired Irish Fine Gael party politician who served for 36 years as Teachta Dála for Donegal North East.-Political career:...
. He retired at age 74 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...
after serving one term. At that time he and Liam Burke
Liam Burke
Liam Burke was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the constituency of Cork North Central. Burke was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election for Cork City North West. After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the 1977 general election in the new...
shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.
He was succeeded by his own son, Niall Blaney
Niall Blaney
Niall Blaney is a former Irish politician. A member of Independent Fianna Fáil until he joined Fianna Fáil in 2006, he served as a Teachta Dála for Donegal North East from 2002 to 2011....
.
His support for the 1997 Ahern Government
Government of the 28th Dáil
The 28th Dáil was elected at the 1997 general election on 6 June 1997 and first met on 26 June when President Mary Robinson, appointed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, on the nomination of Dáil Éireann. On the nomination of the Taoiseach, and following the Dáil's approval the 25th Government of Ireland...
led to the construction of the Harry Blaney Bridge, which opened in 2009 to link the Rosguill
Rosguill
Rosguill is a peninsula situated in north-north-west County Donegal, Ireland. Lying between the peninsulae of Fanad to the east and Horn Head to the west, Rosguill is a dichotomy of heathland and ocean...
and Fanad
Fanad
Fanad is a peninsula that lies between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay on the north coast of County Donegal in Ireland. It encompasses the parishes of Clondavaddog, Killygarvan and parts of Tullyfern and Aughinish. The peninsula includes the towns and villages of Milford, Kerrykeel , Tamney,...
peninsulas across Mulroy Bay
Mulroy Bay
Mulroy Bay is a relatively small bay / sea loch on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland.Mulroy Bay is the most convoluted of the marine inlets in north-west Ireland. It is approximately 12 km long in a north-south direction. The entrance to the bay is a narrow embayment leading to a winding...
in north County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
.