Niall Blaney
Encyclopedia
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
(TD) for Donegal North East
from 2002 to 2011.
For personal reasons, he decided not to contest the 2011 general election.
, County Donegal
in 1974, Niall Blaney hails from a family with a long political history. His grandfather Neal Blaney
, his uncle Neil Blaney
, and his father Harry Blaney
all preceded him as TDs.
Blaney graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology
with a diploma in civil engineering. He first became involved in politics when he was elected to Donegal County Council in 1999. Three years later, in the 2002 general election
, he won election to Dáil Éireann, capturing the third seat in the Donegal North East constituency after Fianna Fáil's Jim McDaid
and Cecilia Keaveney
.
Blaney started his political career as a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, a splinter group created by his uncle Neil T. Blaney when he was expelled from Fianna Fáil over the Arms Crisis
of 1969–70. As a supporter of the Fianna Fáil–led coalition government upon his election to the Dáil, Blaney was widely anticipated to join Fianna Fáil and stand as a candidate for that party at the 2007 general election. Although some members of the Blaney family opposed the move, Niall Blaney announced on 26 July 2006 that he had joined the Fianna Fáil party, a move that marked the effective end of Independent Fianna Fáil.
In the 2007 general election, Blaney again won the third seat in the constituency, after Fine Gael's Joe McHugh
and Fianna Fáil's Jim McDaid. He was elected on the eighth count after a closely fought struggle with Sinn Féin
councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
.
.
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,...
politician. A member of 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...
until he joined 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 2006, he served as 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 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...
from 2002 to 2011.
For personal reasons, he decided not to contest the 2011 general election.
Political career
Born in LetterkennyLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, 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...
in 1974, Niall Blaney hails from a family with a long political history. His grandfather 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...
, his uncle 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...
, and his father 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....
all preceded him as TDs.
Blaney graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Letterkenny Institute of Technology , formerly Regional Technical College, Letterkenny, is located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. It is a third level institution serving County Donegal and the North West of Ireland. The institute is usually known locally as the Regional. Today, it is one...
with a diploma in civil engineering. He first became involved in politics when he was elected to Donegal County Council in 1999. Three years later, 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 won election to Dáil Éireann, capturing the third seat in the Donegal North East constituency after Fianna Fáil's Jim McDaid
Jim McDaid
James "Jim" McDaid is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and medical doctor. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency from June 1989 until he resigned in November 2010.-Early life:...
and 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:...
.
Blaney started his political career as a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, a splinter group created by his uncle Neil T. Blaney when he was expelled from Fianna Fáil over the Arms Crisis
Arms Crisis
The Arms Crisis or Arms Trial was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland in 1970, when two cabinet ministers — Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney — were sacked for allegedly attempting to illegally import arms for the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.-Background:The...
of 1969–70. As a supporter of the Fianna Fáil–led coalition government upon his election to the Dáil, Blaney was widely anticipated to join Fianna Fáil and stand as a candidate for that party at the 2007 general election. Although some members of the Blaney family opposed the move, Niall Blaney announced on 26 July 2006 that he had joined the Fianna Fáil party, a move that marked the effective end of Independent Fianna Fáil.
In the 2007 general election, Blaney again won the third seat in the constituency, after Fine Gael's Joe McHugh
Joe McHugh
Joe McHugh is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency since May 2007.-Background and personal life:...
and Fianna Fáil's Jim McDaid. He was elected on the eighth count after a closely fought struggle with 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...
councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is an Irish Sinn Féin politician from Buncrana in County Donegal. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency at the 2011 general election.-Early life:...
.
Retirement from politics
In a surprise statement on 30 January 2011, just hours before a Fianna Fáil selection convention for his constituency, Blaney announced that he would not be contesting the 2011 general election. He cited "personal reasons" for his decision.Personal life
Blaney married Rosaleen Shovelin in August 2002 and the couple had three children together. On 9 January 2011, at a political meeting at the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny, Blaney disclosed that he and his wife had agreed to an amicable separation and that he had moved out of the family home in Rosnakill, FanadFanad
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,...
.
External links
- http://www.eamonnblaney.com/Misc%20Files/EamonBlaney26%20July%202006.mp3 Newstalk 106 radio interview with Eamonn Blaney (son of Neil Blaney) discussing the merger with Fianna Fáil, July 2006
- http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:ZBK3idIVMZcJ:www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqid%3D15590-qqqx%3D1.asp&hl=en&gl=ie&ct=clnk&cd=4 Google cache of Sunday Business Post article discussing the possible merger
- http://villagemagazine.ie/article.asp?sid=1&sud=40&aid=2111 VillageVillage (magazine)Village is an Irish current affairs magazine founded by Vincent Browne. It was launched in October 2004 and was published weekly. In January 2007, it was announced that Village Magazine would be published monthly...
magazine article, 13 July 2006 - http://www.fiannafail.ie/page.php4?topic=&id=5999&nav=Headlines&pos_id=0 Statement by Bertie AhernBertie AhernPatrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
on the merger, 26 July 2006