Paddy Agnew (Stormont MP)
Encyclopedia
Paddy Agnew was a politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Agnew was brought up a Roman Catholic and held nationalist views. However his politics were also leaning towards labourism, and he had clashes with more conservative Catholic politicians.
He formed the Armagh Employed and Unemployed Association in 1932, and the following year set up a local branch of the Northern Ireland Labour Party
. Generally unemployed due to poor health, Agnew organised mental health
workers and in 1937 founded the Armagh Federation of Labour.
Agnew was elected unopposed for South Armagh
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
, as the incumbent Republican and the local Nationalist Party
both boycotted the election
. He won a seat on Armagh County Council in 1939 from Nationalist Senator
Thomas McLaughlin
.
Agnew lost his Parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election. However, he held his County Council seat, and also won a seat on the newly re-established Armagh City Council, which he held until 1958.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Agnew was brought up a Roman Catholic and held nationalist views. However his politics were also leaning towards labourism, and he had clashes with more conservative Catholic politicians.
He formed the Armagh Employed and Unemployed Association in 1932, and the following year set up a local branch of the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
. Generally unemployed due to poor health, Agnew organised mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
workers and in 1937 founded the Armagh Federation of Labour.
Agnew was elected unopposed for South Armagh
South Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
South Armagh was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:South Armagh was a county constituency comprising the southern part of County Armagh. It was created when the House of Commons Act 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections throughout Northern Ireland...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
, as the incumbent Republican and the local 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....
both boycotted the election
Election boycott
An election boycott is the boycotting of an election by a group of voters, each of whom abstains from voting.Boycotting may be used as a form of political protest where voters feel that electoral fraud is likely, or that the electoral system is biased against its candidates, or that the polity...
. He won a seat on Armagh County Council in 1939 from Nationalist Senator
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
Thomas McLaughlin
Thomas McLaughlin
Thomas McLaughlin was an Irish nationalist politician.Born in Armagh, he became politically active and rose to become the chair of Armagh Urban Council and a member of Armagh County Council. He also served as Supreme Knight of the Knights of Saint Columbanus. In 1928, he was the founding...
.
Agnew lost his Parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election. However, he held his County Council seat, and also won a seat on the newly re-established Armagh City Council, which he held until 1958.