James O'Reilly (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
James O'Reilly, also known as Seamas O'Reilly, (1916 – 1992) was a nationalist politician
in Ireland
.
O'Reilly was a farmer
and an activist in the Nationalist Party
and was elected to Kilkeel
Rural District Council. He stood unsuccessfully for the Irish Anti-Partition League in the Armagh by-election, 1948
.
O'Reilly was elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958
, representing Mourne
, holding the seat until the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
in 1972. He became prominent in the 1960s, when he tried to have Orange Order parades through Kilkeel rerouted.
From February to April 1966 and February 1967 to February 1969, he was the Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. After the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
, he served as the whip
of the Opposition Alliance, before succeeding Roderick O'Connor
as Nationalist Party whip. He was invited to join the Social Democratic and Labour Party
on its formation, but chose to remain a Nationalist Party member.
O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in South Down
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ireland
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...
.
O'Reilly was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and an activist in the Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
and was elected to Kilkeel
Kilkeel
Kilkeel is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast, and its harbour houses one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland. It had a population of 6,338 people according to the 2001 Census...
Rural District Council. He stood unsuccessfully for the Irish Anti-Partition League in the Armagh by-election, 1948
Armagh by-election, 1948
The Armagh by-election was held on 5 March 1948, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament William Allen.Allen had held the seat of Armagh since its recreation for the 1922 UK general election...
.
O'Reilly was elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
, representing Mourne
Mourne (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Mourne was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Mourne was a county constituency comprising part of southern County Down, including the Mountains of Mourne. It was created when the House of Commons Act 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections throughout Northern...
, holding the seat until the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
in 1972. He became prominent in the 1960s, when he tried to have Orange Order parades through Kilkeel rerouted.
From February to April 1966 and February 1967 to February 1969, he was the Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. After the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, he served as the whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
of the Opposition Alliance, before succeeding Roderick O'Connor
Roderick O'Connor (politician)
Roderick O'Connor was a nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.O'Connor was a solicitor and a director of the Ulster Herald series of newspapers...
as Nationalist Party whip. He was invited to join the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
on its formation, but chose to remain a Nationalist Party member.
O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in South Down
South Down (Assembly constituency)
South Down is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
.