Jack McQuillan
Encyclopedia
Jack McQuillan (30 August 1920 – 8 March 1998) was an Irish
politician, trade union
official and army officer.
He was born in Ballyforan
, County Roscommon
in 1920. He was a member of the Roscommon Gaelic football
team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
in 1943 and 1944. He began a career as an officer in the Irish Army
though resigned to work as a local government official.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
on his first attempt as a Clann na Poblachta
Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Roscommon constituency
at the 1948 general election
. After fellow Clann na Poblachta TD, Noel Browne
resigned as Minister for Health, McQuillan resigned from Clann na Poblachta in support of Browne and sat as an independent
TD. He was re-elected at the 1951
, 1954
and 1957
general elections as an independent TD.
On 16 May 1958 the National Progressive Democrats party was founded with Noel Browne and McQuillan as the party's leaders. Between 1958 and 1961, 7 of the 9 motions discussed in Private Member’s Time had been proposed by one of them. In 1961 and 1962 they asked 1,400 parliamentary questions, 17% of the total. The Taoiseach
Seán Lemass
paid them a unique compliment by referring to them as "the real opposition". Both were re-elected at the 1961 general election
. In October 1963 both men joined the Labour Party
. This new arrangement did not prove electorally beneficial to McQuillan as he lost his seat in Roscommon at the 1965 general election
. However, he was elected to Seanad Éireann
on the Administrative Panel. He resigned the Labour Party whip in 1967 and did not seek re-election at the 1969 general election
, and retired from his Roscommon County Council
seat in 1974.
When the Socialist Labour Party
was founded in 1977, McQuillan joined as a Trustee of the new party but later resigned. Remaining close to Noel Browne he lobbied hard for him to get the Labour Party nomination to contest the 1990 presidential election
for the Labour Party. However, Mary Robinson
was the preferred candidate of Dick Spring
.
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...
politician, trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
official and army officer.
He was born in Ballyforan
Ballyforan
Ballyforan is a village in south County Roscommon, Ireland on the R363 road between Ballygar and Dysart, County Roscommon. It lies beside the River Suck which separates County Roscommon and County Galway...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1920. He was a member of the Roscommon Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
in 1943 and 1944. He began a career as an officer in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
though resigned to work as a local government official.
He was 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...
on his first attempt as a Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
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 Roscommon constituency
Roscommon (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Roscommon was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1969 and from 1981 to 1992...
at the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
. After fellow Clann na Poblachta TD, Noel Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
resigned as Minister for Health, McQuillan resigned from Clann na Poblachta in support of Browne and sat as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
TD. He was re-elected at the 1951
Irish general election, 1951
The Irish general election of 1951 was held on 30 May 1951. The newly elected members of the 14th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 13 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, 1954
Irish general election, 1954
The Irish general election of 1954 was held on 18 May 1954. The newly elected members of the 15th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
and 1957
Irish general election, 1957
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...
general elections as an independent TD.
On 16 May 1958 the National Progressive Democrats party was founded with Noel Browne and McQuillan as the party's leaders. Between 1958 and 1961, 7 of the 9 motions discussed in Private Member’s Time had been proposed by one of them. In 1961 and 1962 they asked 1,400 parliamentary questions, 17% of the total. The 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...
Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
paid them a unique compliment by referring to them as "the real opposition". Both were re-elected 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...
. In October 1963 both men joined the Labour Party
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...
. This new arrangement did not prove electorally beneficial to McQuillan as he lost his seat in Roscommon 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....
. However, he was elected to 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 Administrative Panel. He resigned the Labour Party whip in 1967 and did not seek re-election at 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...
, and retired from his Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon 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...
seat in 1974.
When the Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Labour Party was a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland formed under the leadership of Matt Merrigan and Noël Browne, TD in 1977. Another key figure was the radical journalist Brian Trench, now head of the Communications Department at Dublin City University along with...
was founded in 1977, McQuillan joined as a Trustee of the new party but later resigned. Remaining close to Noel Browne he lobbied hard for him to get the Labour Party nomination to contest the 1990 presidential election
Irish presidential election
The Irish presidential election determines who serves as the President of Ireland; the head of state of Ireland. The most recent election took place on 27 October 2011.-Overview:...
for the Labour Party. However, Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
was the preferred candidate of Dick Spring
Dick Spring
Richard "Dick" Spring is an Irish businessman and former politician. He was first elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála in 1981 and retained his seat until 2002. He became leader of the Labour Party in 1982, and held this position until 1997...
.
Sources
- Kevin Rafter (1996), The Clann: The Story of Clann na Poblachta
- John Horgan (2000), Noel Browne: Passionate Outsider
- Noel Browne (1986), Against the Tide (Gill & Macmillan)