Pól Ó Foighil
Encyclopedia
Pól Ó Foighil was an Irish
politician and activist for Irish-speaking
, coastal and island communities. A teacher turned co-operative manager, he was an active member of the Fine Gael
party, and as a long-serving councillor he was the party's only elected representative in the Connemara
Gaeltacht
for two decades. He also served as a senator
from 1989 to 1993.
, County Tipperary
, and was educated by the Christian Brothers
in Thurles and at University College Galway (UCG). His first job was as a teacher in the Cois Fharraige area of south Connemara, and he settled in Indreabhán. He married Chrissie Nic Eoin, and they had seven children.
One of their four sons, Éanna, a medical student at UCG, committed suicide in 1982. Ó Foighil later spoke on RTÉ television about the impact of suicide on families.
, and Inishbiggle
.
As manager of the co-op on Inis Meáin, he supervised the construction of a desalination plant on the island, and of a controversial wind farm. The environmentalist and author Tim Robinson opposed the wind turbines, and was accused by Ó Foighil of "giving vent to confrontational heritage attitudes" and of being "hell bent" on the depopulation of Inismaan". He also campaigned for a cable-car to link the island of Inishbiggle in County Mayo
with the neighbouring Achill Island
. Inishbiggle had no ferry service, and the short crossing to the island was frequently impassable due to poor weather, with result that families had to leave the island so that their children could attend school. The government agreed to fund a cable car, but in December 2005 the plan was cancelled in favour of improved piers.
, and stood as Fine Gael candidate at the 1979 local elections
, winning seats both on Galway County Council
and on Údarás na Gaeltachta
. He stood again for Dáil Éireann
at the 1981
, November 1982 and 1992 general elections
, but never won a seat.
However, in 1989 he was elected to the 19th Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel, serving until 1993. He caused controversy in the Seanad by insisting on wearing the traditional Connemara 'báinín' jacket, and by changing his name to Pól 'Báinín' Ó Foighil. He also fought unsuccessfully to have legislation and official documents made available to him in the Irish language, which under the Constitution of Ireland
is the first official language.
As a councillor, Ó Foighil successfully tabled a proposal to the draft Galway County Development Plan 2003–2009 that planning permission
would be given only to applicants fluent in Irish. The provision was denounced as "fascist" and "a bit Bosnian" by residents of Galway city
, and was diluted before the development plan was adopted. The final plan required a "language impact statement" only for developments of more than one dwelling, stating that "Permission will only be granted where the Authority is satisfied that the effect of the development will be beneficial to the usage of the language in the area, if permitted." The requirement that some units in a development be reserved for Irish speakers led to falling property prices, and to the son of a returned emigrant being unable to buy an apartment because he didn't speak Irish. The language rule was described as an "act of political piety" by Sunday Times
columnist Liam Fay.
Ó Foighil unsuccessfully sought a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate in the 2002 general election
. He had been told by party official Finbarr Fitzpatrick that he was too old, but put his name forward at the selection convention anyway. According to Pádraic McCormack
TD, Ó Foighil challenged Fitzpatrick to 20 press up
s, and told the convention that his hair was his own, his teeth were his own and that other parts of his anatomy were working very well, too.
He died on 21 March 2005, aged 76. He had resigned from Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2004, but had been intending to run as an independent candidate in the 2005 elections to the Údarás.
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 and activist for Irish-speaking
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, coastal and island communities. A teacher turned co-operative manager, he was an active member of the 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...
party, and as a long-serving councillor he was the party's only elected representative in the Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
for two decades. He also served as a senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from 1989 to 1993.
Early life and family
Ó Foighil was born ThurlesThurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, and was educated by the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
in Thurles and at University College Galway (UCG). His first job was as a teacher in the Cois Fharraige area of south Connemara, and he settled in Indreabhán. He married Chrissie Nic Eoin, and they had seven children.
One of their four sons, Éanna, a medical student at UCG, committed suicide in 1982. Ó Foighil later spoke on RTÉ television about the impact of suicide on families.
Activism
Ó Foighil's first community development effort was the establishment of group schemes for water supply, leading to the nickname "fear an uisce". He went on establishing Irish-language summer colleges in Connemara, and to develop co-operatives in Connemara, the Aran IslandsAran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
, and Inishbiggle
Inishbiggle
Inishbiggle is a small inhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland. Its name in Irish means "Island of Fasting." The island is situated between the northeast of Achill Island and the mainland, and is accessed by boat from either Doran's point at Ballycroy or Bullsmouth, Dooniver on...
.
As manager of the co-op on Inis Meáin, he supervised the construction of a desalination plant on the island, and of a controversial wind farm. The environmentalist and author Tim Robinson opposed the wind turbines, and was accused by Ó Foighil of "giving vent to confrontational heritage attitudes" and of being "hell bent" on the depopulation of Inismaan". He also campaigned for a cable-car to link the island of Inishbiggle in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
with the neighbouring Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
. Inishbiggle had no ferry service, and the short crossing to the island was frequently impassable due to poor weather, with result that families had to leave the island so that their children could attend school. The government agreed to fund a cable car, but in December 2005 the plan was cancelled in favour of improved piers.
Political career
His first political contest was as an independent candidate at the by-election in 1975 in the Galway West constituency, when he won only 7.5% of the votes. In 1979, he joined Fine GaelFine 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...
, and stood as Fine Gael candidate at the 1979 local elections
Irish local elections, 1979
The 1979 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on 7 June 1979, on the same day as the first direct elections to the European Parliament.- Results :- County councils :Source:- Large corporations :...
, winning seats both on Galway County Council
Galway County Council
Galway County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Galway in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is at Galway County Hall in Galway...
and on Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta , abbreviated ÚnaG, is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of nominally Irish-speaking regions of the Republic of Ireland...
. He stood again for 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 1981
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, November 1982 and 1992 general elections
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...
, but never won a seat.
However, in 1989 he was elected to the 19th Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel, serving until 1993. He caused controversy in the Seanad by insisting on wearing the traditional Connemara 'báinín' jacket, and by changing his name to Pól 'Báinín' Ó Foighil. He also fought unsuccessfully to have legislation and official documents made available to him in the Irish language, which under the Constitution of Ireland
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
is the first official language.
As a councillor, Ó Foighil successfully tabled a proposal to the draft Galway County Development Plan 2003–2009 that planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
would be given only to applicants fluent in Irish. The provision was denounced as "fascist" and "a bit Bosnian" by residents of Galway city
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, and was diluted before the development plan was adopted. The final plan required a "language impact statement" only for developments of more than one dwelling, stating that "Permission will only be granted where the Authority is satisfied that the effect of the development will be beneficial to the usage of the language in the area, if permitted." The requirement that some units in a development be reserved for Irish speakers led to falling property prices, and to the son of a returned emigrant being unable to buy an apartment because he didn't speak Irish. The language rule was described as an "act of political piety" by Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
columnist Liam Fay.
Ó Foighil unsuccessfully sought a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate 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 had been told by party official Finbarr Fitzpatrick that he was too old, but put his name forward at the selection convention anyway. According to Pádraic McCormack
Pádraic McCormack
Pádraic McCormack is a former Irish Fine Gael politician, who served as a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency from 1989 to 2011, and as a Senator from 1987 to 1989....
TD, Ó Foighil challenged Fitzpatrick to 20 press up
Press up
For the 2004 single by Freestylers, see Push UpA push-up, or in British English a press-up, is a common calisthenics exercise performed in a prone position by raising and lowering the body using the arms...
s, and told the convention that his hair was his own, his teeth were his own and that other parts of his anatomy were working very well, too.
He died on 21 March 2005, aged 76. He had resigned from Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2004, but had been intending to run as an independent candidate in the 2005 elections to the Údarás.