Tom O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Thomas G. O'Donnell (born 30 August 1926) 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. He worked as a teacher and a voluntary community activist before becoming involved in politics.
O'Donnell was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1961 general election
as a Fine Gael
Teachta Dála
(TD) for Limerick East. He was Opposition Front Bench
spokesperson on Transport, Power and Tourism from 1969–1973. He served in the government on one occasion in the National Coalition
under Taoiseach
Liam Cosgrave
between 1973 and 1977 as Minister for the Gaeltacht
. He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Telecommunications from 1977–1979. O'Donnell was elected to the European Parliament
at the 1979 elections
. He retired from national politics following the 1987 general election
when he failed to be elected. This came as a surprise. As such a popular TD, it seemed to be a given that he would be elected. It is believed that a campaign began to get another Fine Gael TD elected to the constituency. As so many people supported this campaign, Tom was not elected and retired soon after. He was spokesperson on Regional Policy for the European People's Party
(EPP) from 1979–1989.
After his retirement from politics he subsequently became actively involved in the voluntary sector. He was Chairperson of the Limerick Peace Institute at the University of Limerick
, Chairperson of the PAUL Partnership, Chairperson to the Limerick City and County Strategy Group and the Limerick Employment Pact.
He was honoured by Limerick City Council with a civic reception and a special presentation in 2005 to mark his half a century of his political and voluntary services to the people of Limerick City and County.
He is married to Helen O'Connor from Sligo
, former Honorary National Secretary of Fine Gael and they have one son. His uncle Richard O'Connell
was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Limerick
from 1924–1932 and his nephew Kieran O'Donnell
is currently a TD for Limerick East.
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,...
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...
politician. He was born at Bulgaden, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
and was educated at the Crescent College
Crescent College
Crescent College Comprehensive SJ is a secondary school located on a section of 40 acres of parkland at Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland. The college is one of a number of Jesuit schools in Ireland.- History :...
, Salesian College and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He worked as a teacher and a voluntary community activist before becoming involved in politics.
O'Donnell 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...
at the 1961 general election
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
as a 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...
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 Limerick East. He was Opposition Front Bench
Opposition Front Bench (Ireland)
Fine Gael is the largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. -Fine Gael Front Bench:...
spokesperson on Transport, Power and Tourism from 1969–1973. He served in the government on one occasion in the National Coalition
Government of the 20th Dáil
The 20th Dáil was elected at the 1973 general election on 28 February 1973 and first met on 14 March when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed...
under Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....
between 1973 and 1977 as Minister for the Gaeltacht
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is a senior minister at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is Frances Fitzgerald, TD.-Overview:...
. He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Telecommunications from 1977–1979. O'Donnell was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
at the 1979 elections
European Parliament election, 1979 (Ireland)
The 1979 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1979 European Parliament election. These were the first direct elections to the European Parliament...
. He retired from national politics following 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...
when he failed to be elected. This came as a surprise. As such a popular TD, it seemed to be a given that he would be elected. It is believed that a campaign began to get another Fine Gael TD elected to the constituency. As so many people supported this campaign, Tom was not elected and retired soon after. He was spokesperson on Regional Policy for the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP) from 1979–1989.
After his retirement from politics he subsequently became actively involved in the voluntary sector. He was Chairperson of the Limerick Peace Institute at the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, Chairperson of the PAUL Partnership, Chairperson to the Limerick City and County Strategy Group and the Limerick Employment Pact.
He was honoured by Limerick City Council with a civic reception and a special presentation in 2005 to mark his half a century of his political and voluntary services to the people of Limerick City and County.
He is married to Helen O'Connor from Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, former Honorary National Secretary of Fine Gael and they have one son. His uncle Richard O'Connell
Richard O'Connell
Richard O'Connell was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician. A former Army officer, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency at a by-election on 28 May 1924. He was re-elected at the June 1927 and September 1927 general elections...
was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Limerick
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...
from 1924–1932 and his 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.
External links
- Tom O'Donnell's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)