Flor Crowley
Encyclopedia
Florence "Flor" Crowley (27 December 1934 – 16 May 1997) was a Fianna Fáil
politician from West Cork
in Ireland
. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for thirteen years, and a senator
for five years.
, Crowley was an accomplished rugby
player in his youth. He and his wife Sally had six children. Their son Brian
(born 1964) is a former Fianna Fáil senator, and has been a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) since 1994
.
in the Cork Mid
constituency at a by-election in March 1965, but won the seat at the 1965 general election
in April. After boundary changes for the 1969 general election
, he was re-elected in the new Cork South West
constituency, and held the seat at the 1973 general election
. Meanwhile, he had been elected in 1967 as a member of both Cork City Council
and Cork County Council
, and after the 1971 local elections had remained a member only of the County Council.
He lost his seat at the 1977 general election
. Fianna Fáil won a landslide victory, but it had fielded three candidates in Cork South West and won only one seat. Crowley, the sitting TD, was beaten by his party colleague Joe Walsh
. He was then elected to the 14th Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel, and at the 1981 general
he regained his Dáil seat from Walsh. Walsh retook the seat at the February 1982 general election, following which Crowley stood in the Seanad elections on the Cultural and Educational Panel. However, he did not win a seat; at the time Fianna Fáil was deeply divided between supporters and opponents of its leader Charles Haughey
, and the Haughey-supporting Crowley was beaten by another Fianna Fáil candidate, Séamus de Brún
, who had previously been nominated by the then-Taoiseach
, Jack Lynch
to the 14th Seanad. Crowley was then nominated by Haughey to the 16th Seanad.
Crowley did not contest the November 1982 general election. In the subsequent February 1983 Seanad elections, he stood as a candidate on the Administrative Panel, but did not win a seat.
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 from West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
in Ireland
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,...
. 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 thirteen years, and a senator
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...
for five years.
Family
An auctioneer from BandonBandon, County Cork
Bandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
, Crowley was an accomplished rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player in his youth. He and his wife Sally had six children. Their son Brian
Brian Crowley
Brian Crowley is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Member of the European Parliament for the South constituency. He was co-president of the Union for Europe of the Nations group in the European Parliament in which Fianna Fáil sat until it joined the ELDR and, by extension, ALDE...
(born 1964) is a former Fianna Fáil senator, and has been a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) since 1994
European Parliament election, 1994 (Ireland)
The 1994 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1994 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details:-See also:...
.
Political career
He stood unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáil candidate for Dáil ÉireannDáil 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 Cork Mid
Cork Mid (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork Mid was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency was served by 4 deputies from 1961 to 1977, and then 5 from 1977 until its abolition in 1981...
constituency at a by-election in March 1965, but won the seat at the 1965 general election
Irish general election, 1965
The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
in April. After boundary changes for the 1969 general election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
, he was re-elected in the new Cork South West
Cork South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies . The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History and boundaries :It was...
constituency, and held the seat at the 1973 general election
Irish general election, 1973
The Irish general election of 1973 was held on 28 February 1973. The newly elected 144 members of the 20th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 4 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. Meanwhile, he had been elected in 1967 as a member of both Cork City Council
Cork City Council
Cork City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Cork and its immediate hinterland in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment...
and Cork County Council
Cork County Council
Cork County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Cork 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...
, and after the 1971 local elections had remained a member only of the County Council.
He lost his seat at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
. Fianna Fáil won a landslide victory, but it had fielded three candidates in Cork South West and won only one seat. Crowley, the sitting TD, was beaten by his party colleague Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh (Irish politician)
Joe Walsh is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for Cork South West and was first elected as a TD at the 1977 general election. He lost his seat in 1981 but regained it again in 1982 and served as a TD until retiring at the 2007 general election...
. He was then elected to the 14th Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel, and at the 1981 general
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....
he regained his Dáil seat from Walsh. Walsh retook the seat at the February 1982 general election, following which Crowley stood in the Seanad elections on the Cultural and Educational Panel. However, he did not win a seat; at the time Fianna Fáil was deeply divided between supporters and opponents of its leader Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
, and the Haughey-supporting Crowley was beaten by another Fianna Fáil candidate, Séamus de Brún
Séamus de Brún
Séamus de Brún was an Irish teacher, senator and promoter of the Irish language and culture.A lifelong member of the Fianna Fáil party, he was particularly noted for his work as a trustee and president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.-Family and early life:De Brún was born in Cornamona, in...
, who had previously been nominated by the then-Taoiseach
Nominated by the Taoiseach
The composition of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas of Ireland, is defined in outline by Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland, which provides for 11 appointees that are nominated by the Taoiseach...
, Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
to the 14th Seanad. Crowley was then nominated by Haughey to the 16th Seanad.
Crowley did not contest the November 1982 general election. In the subsequent February 1983 Seanad elections, he stood as a candidate on the Administrative Panel, but did not win a seat.