Richard O'Connell was an Irish

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...

 Cumann na nGaedheal politician. A former Army officer, he 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...

 as a Cumann na nGaedheal 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 Limerick constituency

Limerick (Dáil Éireann constituency)

Limerick is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...

 at a by-election on 28 May 1924. He was re-elected at the June 1927 and September 1927 general elections but lost his seat at the 1932 general election

Irish general election, 1932

The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of...

. He stood again at the 1933 general election

Irish general election, 1933

The Irish general election of 1933 was held on 24 January 1933. The newly elected members of the 8th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 8 February when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed....

 but was not elected.

His nephew Tom O'Donnell

Tom O'Donnell

Thomas G. O'Donnell is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. He was born at Bulgaden, County Limerick and was educated at the Crescent College, Salesian College and University College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree...

 was a TD for Limerick East from 1961–87 and his grand-nephew Kieran O'Donnell

Kieran O'Donnell

Kieran O'Donnell is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency.Before becoming a full-time public representative, O'Donnell worked as an accountant. He is nephew of former Minister and TD for Limerick East Tom O'Donnell.O'Donnell was an...

is currently a TD for Limerick East.