Fintan Coogan, Jnr
Encyclopedia
Fintan Coogan is a former Fine Gael
politician from Galway
in Ireland
. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for five years, a senator for five years, and was twice Mayor of Galway
.
, a long-serving TD and councillor, Coogan was educated at St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Galway and graduated from University College Galway with a BA degree and a H.Dip.Ed. A lecturer in behavioural science at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
, he has also served on the boards of Galway Airport
and of the Great Southern Hotels Group. He is married with 3 daughters and 1 son.
and Galway City Council
, and when his father died in 1984 he was appointed to succeed him as a member of the Western Health Board.
Coogan unsuccessfully contested the February 1982 general election in Galway West constituency, failing to regain the seat previously held by his father. However he won a seat in Dáil Éireann
at the November 1982 general election, giving Fine Gael a rare second seat in Galway west. He defeated at the 1987 general election
by Labour
candidate Michael D. Higgins
, whom he had ousted in 1982. He stood again in the 1989
and 1992 general election
s, but never returned to the Dáil.
In 1997, he was elected to the 21st Seanad on the Administrative Panel, but was defeated in the 2002 election to the 22nd Seanad. Fine Gael had suffered heavy losses in the 2002 general election
, and the party chose to prioritise younger politicians who appeared to the strong candidates for the next election to the Dáil.
Coogan was mayor of Galway
city from 1988 to 1989, and 1994 to 1995. He remained a city councillor until his defeat in the 2004 elections, although at the 1999 local elections
he was not selected as a candidate by his local party, and was imposed by the party's national executive — and held his council seat with a majority of just two votes over his Progressive Democrats
opponent, fish wholesaler Gary Creaven. The recounts extended over two nights, and when victory was confirmed Coogan said "On the third day, he rose again", prompting an Irish Times
article under the headline "City's Lazarus claims resurrection status as he defeats provider of fish".
In a January 2008 comparison of the council elected in 2004 with its predecessor, the local Galway Advertiser
newspaper gave Coogan a rating of 5 out of 10, noting that "at times he made good contributions but frequently appeared uninterested".
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 from Galway
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...
in Ireland
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...
. 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 five years, a senator for five years, and was twice Mayor of Galway
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
.
Family and early life
The son of Fintan Coogan, SnrFintan Coogan, Snr
Fintan Coogan was a Fine Gael politician from Galway in Ireland. A blacksmith before entering politics, he was a Teachta Dála for over twenty years, and served three times as Mayor of Galway....
, a long-serving TD and councillor, Coogan was educated at St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Galway and graduated from University College Galway with a BA degree and a H.Dip.Ed. A lecturer in behavioural science at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:...
, he has also served on the boards of Galway Airport
Galway Airport
Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, north of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland and is managed by Corrib Airport Limited.On 31 October 2011 the airport's sole remaining operator Aer Arann ceased commercial operations at the airport...
and of the Great Southern Hotels Group. He is married with 3 daughters and 1 son.
Political career
Coogan followed his father into politics, becoming a member of Galway County CouncilGalway 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 Galway City Council
Galway City Council
Galway City Council is the local authority for the city of Galway, Ireland. Previously Galway Corporation, it was founded in 1485 by The Tribes of Galway via a Charter of Mayoralty granted to the town in December 1484 by King Richard III. The first Mayor of Galway was Peirce Lynch...
, and when his father died in 1984 he was appointed to succeed him as a member of the Western Health Board.
Coogan unsuccessfully contested the February 1982 general election in Galway West constituency, failing to regain the seat previously held by his father. However he won a seat in 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 November 1982 general election, giving Fine Gael a rare second seat in Galway west. He defeated 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...
by Labour
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
candidate Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins is the ninth and current President of Ireland, having taken office on 11 November 2011 following victory in the 2011 Irish presidential election. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster. Higgins was President of the Labour Party until his...
, whom he had ousted in 1982. He stood again in the 1989
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...
and 1992 general election
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...
s, but never returned to the Dáil.
In 1997, he was elected to the 21st Seanad on the Administrative Panel, but was defeated in the 2002 election to the 22nd Seanad. Fine Gael had suffered heavy losses 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...
, and the party chose to prioritise younger politicians who appeared to the strong candidates for the next election to the Dáil.
Coogan was mayor of Galway
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...
city from 1988 to 1989, and 1994 to 1995. He remained a city councillor until his defeat in the 2004 elections, although at the 1999 local elections
Irish local elections, 1999
The 1999 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on 10 June 1999, on the same day as the European elections.- Results :18 Workers' Party councillors had left the party in 1992 upon the creation of Democratic Left...
he was not selected as a candidate by his local party, and was imposed by the party's national executive — and held his council seat with a majority of just two votes over his Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
opponent, fish wholesaler Gary Creaven. The recounts extended over two nights, and when victory was confirmed Coogan said "On the third day, he rose again", prompting an Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
article under the headline "City's Lazarus claims resurrection status as he defeats provider of fish".
In a January 2008 comparison of the council elected in 2004 with its predecessor, the local Galway Advertiser
Galway Advertiser
The Galway Advertiser is a free newspaper distributed throughout Galway city and county on Thursdays. It was the first of the regional newspapers under the "Advertiser" banner, which now also includes publications based in Athlone, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Mullingar....
newspaper gave Coogan a rating of 5 out of 10, noting that "at times he made good contributions but frequently appeared uninterested".
See also
- Families in the OireachtasFamilies in the OireachtasThere is a tradition in Irish politics of having family members succeed each other, frequently in the same parliamentary seat. This article lists families where two or more members of that family have been members of either of the houses of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament...