Brendan McGahon
Encyclopedia
Brendan McGahon is a former Irish
politician in the Fine Gael
party. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the constituency of Louth
.
Often described as 'colourful' and with a reputation as a social conservative, McGahon was first elected to Dáil Éireann
in the November 1982 general election and retained his seat until retiring at the 2002 general election
.
McGahon was born in Dundalk
, County Louth
and was educated at St. Mary's College in Dundalk. His grandfather, T.F. McGahon, was one of the inaugural members of Dundalk Urban District Council when it was created along with other Irish local authorities by the British Government in 1898. T.F. McGahon was a leading member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
(IPP). He started a local newspaper, the Dundalk Democrat which was supportive of the IPP. T.F. was a critic of the War of Independence
campaign, of Sinn Féin
, and of the then IRA
, arguing that the campaign would result in the partition of Ireland
. He was later succeeded on the council by his son, O.B. McGahon who in turn was followed by his nephew, Hugh McGahon SC. The family subsequently supported the National League Party and the Independent TD James Coburn
and joined Fine Gael when Coburn joined the party.They were also prominent members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Brendan married Celine Lundy, a widow from Newry, County Down, and took over the running of the family newspaper business in the 1960s and succeeded his cousin Hugh, on Dundalk Town Council and on Louth County Council
in the local elections of 1979. He played soccer for Dundalk F.C.
in the Premier Division for a number of years.McGahon was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1981 general election
and in the February 1982 general election. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
in the November 1982 general election defeating incumbent Fine Gael TD, Bernard Markey
. He was re-elected at the next five general elections.
A maverick and outspoken TD he was known to speak his mind on many issues including divorce, crime, single mothers, the drinks industry and was an outspoken critic of the Provisional IRA throughout his time in politics. He once advocated that paedophiles should be castrated as part of their prison sentence and was the only TD to oppose the referendum to abolish the death penalty from the Constitution
. He also argued that those aged under 21 years of age should not be able to drive or drink. He did not contest the 2002 general election
and retired from politics. He opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality
and said: "I regard homosexuals as being in a sad category, but I believe homosexuality to be an abnormality, some type of psycho-sexual problem that has defied explanation over the years. I do not believe that the Irish people desire this normalisation of what is clearly an abnormality. Homosexuality is a departure from normality and while homosexuals deserve our compassion they do not deserve our tolerance. That is how the man in the street thinks. I know of no homosexual who has been discriminated against. Such people have a persecution complex because they know they are different from the masses or normal society. They endure inner torment and it is not a question of the way others view them. The lord provided us with sexual organs for a specific purpose. Homosexuals are like lefthand drivers driving on the right-hand side of the road."
McGahon currently lives in Ravensdale, County Louth
. His son, Conor
, was a councillor from 1991–99 and his brother, Johnny, lost his seat in the 2004 Local Elections ending the family's 106 year long representation on Dundalk Town Council.
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 in 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. He was 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 constituency of Louth
Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
.
Often described as 'colourful' and with a reputation as a social conservative, McGahon 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...
in the November 1982 general election and retained his seat until retiring 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...
.
McGahon was born in Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
and was educated at St. Mary's College in Dundalk. His grandfather, T.F. McGahon, was one of the inaugural members of Dundalk Urban District Council when it was created along with other Irish local authorities by the British Government in 1898. T.F. McGahon was a leading member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
(IPP). He started a local newspaper, the Dundalk Democrat which was supportive of the IPP. T.F. was a critic of the War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
campaign, of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, and of the then IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
, arguing that the campaign would result in the partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
. He was later succeeded on the council by his son, O.B. McGahon who in turn was followed by his nephew, Hugh McGahon SC. The family subsequently supported the National League Party and the Independent TD James Coburn
James Coburn (Irish politician)
James Coburn was an Irish politician and builders foreman. Coburn was first elected to Dáil Éireann as an National League Party Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency at the June 1927 general election...
and joined Fine Gael when Coburn joined the party.They were also prominent members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Brendan married Celine Lundy, a widow from Newry, County Down, and took over the running of the family newspaper business in the 1960s and succeeded his cousin Hugh, on Dundalk Town Council and on Louth County Council
Louth County Council
Louth County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Louth in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
in the local elections of 1979. He played soccer for Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
in the Premier Division for a number of years.McGahon was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1981 general election
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....
and in the February 1982 general election. 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...
in the November 1982 general election defeating incumbent Fine Gael TD, Bernard Markey
Bernard Markey
Bernard Markey was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served both as a Teachta Dála and as a Senator. Markey was first elected to Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel in 1973 and was re-elected to the Seanad in 1977...
. He was re-elected at the next five general elections.
A maverick and outspoken TD he was known to speak his mind on many issues including divorce, crime, single mothers, the drinks industry and was an outspoken critic of the Provisional IRA throughout his time in politics. He once advocated that paedophiles should be castrated as part of their prison sentence and was the only TD to oppose the referendum to abolish the death penalty from the Constitution
Twenty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Twenty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland introduced a constitutional ban on the death penalty and removed all references to capital punishment from the text...
. He also argued that those aged under 21 years of age should not be able to drive or drink. He did not contest 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...
and retired from politics. He opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and said: "I regard homosexuals as being in a sad category, but I believe homosexuality to be an abnormality, some type of psycho-sexual problem that has defied explanation over the years. I do not believe that the Irish people desire this normalisation of what is clearly an abnormality. Homosexuality is a departure from normality and while homosexuals deserve our compassion they do not deserve our tolerance. That is how the man in the street thinks. I know of no homosexual who has been discriminated against. Such people have a persecution complex because they know they are different from the masses or normal society. They endure inner torment and it is not a question of the way others view them. The lord provided us with sexual organs for a specific purpose. Homosexuals are like lefthand drivers driving on the right-hand side of the road."
McGahon currently lives in Ravensdale, County Louth
Ravensdale, County Louth
Ravensdale is an area of Ireland located at the foothills of the Cooley Mountains on the Cooley Peninsula. It is positioned approximately 8 km to the north of Dundalk, County Louth. The M1 motorway between Dublin and Belfast runs past it. The district is heavily wooded and the housing is...
. His son, Conor
Conor McGahon
Conor McGahon is a former Irish Solicitor and retired Fine Gael member of both Louth County Council and Dundalk Urban District Council...
, was a councillor from 1991–99 and his brother, Johnny, lost his seat in the 2004 Local Elections ending the family's 106 year long representation on Dundalk Town Council.
External links
- Brendan McGahon's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)