Liam Burke
Encyclopedia
Liam Burke was an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) 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 Cork City
constituency, but lost his seat. He was returned to the 21st Dáil at a by-election on 7 November 1979 in the same constituency, following the death of the Labour Party
TD Patrick Kerrigan
. That by-election win contributed to the decision of then Taoiseach
Jack Lynch
to resign in December 1979.
Burke lost his seat for the second time at the 1989 general election
but regained it at the 1992 general election
. He then retained his seat until retiring aged 74 at the 2002 general election
. At that time he and Harry Blaney
shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.
He was educated at Christian Brothers College Cork and University College Cork. He was Lord Mayor of Cork
for the 1984–85 term.
Burke died on 21 August 2005, aged 77.
His sister, Councillor Mary Woods, is an elected public representative for Fine Gael on the Town Council for Midleton
, County Cork since 1985. His uncle Tadhg Manley
was a Fine Gael TD from 1954–61. He was a cousin of Fianna Fáil
TD Billy Kelleher
.
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,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
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 Cork North Central
Cork North Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork North–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
. Burke 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 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 Cork City North West
Cork City North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork City North–West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1977...
. After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the 1977 general 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...
in the new Cork City
Cork City (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork City was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981...
constituency, but lost his seat. He was returned to the 21st Dáil at a by-election on 7 November 1979 in the same constituency, following the death of the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
TD Patrick Kerrigan
Patrick Kerrigan
Patrick Kerrigan was an Irish Labour Party Senator and then Teachta Dála who died in office.A trade union official, Kerrigan was an unsuccessful candidate in the Cork City North West constituency at the 1969 general election. He lost again at the 1973 general election, when a Fine Gael-Labour...
. That by-election win contributed to the decision of then 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...
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....
to resign in December 1979.
Burke lost his seat for the second time at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
but regained it at 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...
. He then retained his seat until retiring aged 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...
. At that time he and Harry Blaney
Harry Blaney
Harry Blaney is a retired Irish Independent Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the constituency of Donegal North East. He is a son of Neal Blaney, who was a TD from 1927 to 1948....
shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.
He was educated at Christian Brothers College Cork and University College Cork. He was Lord Mayor of Cork
Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork is the honorific title of the Chairman of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The incumbent is Terry Shannon of Fianna Fáil. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the Council.-History of office:In 1199 there...
for the 1984–85 term.
Burke died on 21 August 2005, aged 77.
His sister, Councillor Mary Woods, is an elected public representative for Fine Gael on the Town Council for Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
, County Cork since 1985. His uncle Tadhg Manley
Tadhg Manley
Timothy Manley was an Irish Fine Gael politician. A teacher by profession, he was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1951 general election. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for the Cork South constituency at the 1954 general election. He was re-elected at the 1957...
was a Fine Gael TD from 1954–61. He was a cousin 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...
TD Billy Kelleher
Billy Kelleher
Billy Kelleher is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Cork North Central constituency since 1997....
.