Seán Ó Fearghail
Encyclopedia
Seán Ó Fearghaíl is an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Kildare South constituency since 2002.
He comes from a farming background and previously worked for Dublin Corporation
. Ó Fearghaíl first stood for election to elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1987 general election
, but was unsuccessful. He was unsuccessful again at the 1989 general election
, but was elected as a member of Kildare County Council
in 1985.
After further defeats at the 1992
and 1997
general elections, he stood for Seanad Éireann
on the Agricultural Panel in 1997. He was defeated, but won a seat in the 21st Seanad at a by-election
held in June 2000 after the death of Senator Patrick McGowan
.
Ó Fearghaíl finally won a Dáil seat on his fifth attempt, at the 2002 general election
, when he defeated the sitting Fine Gael
TD (and former leader) Alan Dukes
. At the 2007 general election he topped he poll and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected at the 2011 general election.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil party whip and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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,...
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...
politician. He has been 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 Kildare South constituency since 2002.
He comes from a farming background and previously worked for Dublin Corporation
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
. Ó Fearghaíl first stood for election to 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 1987 general election
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
, but was unsuccessful. He was unsuccessful again 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 was elected as a member of Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kildare in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The council is governed by the Local Government...
in 1985.
After further defeats at the 1992
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...
and 1997
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
general elections, he stood for Seanad Éireann
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...
on the Agricultural Panel in 1997. He was defeated, but won a seat in the 21st Seanad at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held in June 2000 after the death of Senator Patrick McGowan
Patrick McGowan
Patrick McGowan was a Fianna Fáil politician in Ireland.A farmer and potato merchant, he was a senator from 1965 to 1981, and from 1987 to 2002, elected on the Agricultural Panel....
.
Ó Fearghaíl finally won a Dáil seat on his fifth attempt, 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...
, when he defeated the sitting 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...
TD (and former leader) Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes is a former Irish politician who served as leader of the Fine Gael political party and Teachta Dála for Kildare and Kildare South. He holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He lost his seat in the 2002 general election...
. At the 2007 general election he topped he poll and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected at the 2011 general election.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil party whip and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade.