John Mannion, Jnr
Encyclopedia
John Martin Mannion was an Irish
Fine Gael
party politician from Clifden
, County Galway
. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for four years and a senator
for 10 years.
A farmer, auctioneer and businessman before entering politics, Mannion was a long-serving member of Galway County Council
, and of the Western Health Board. He was elected in 1969 to the 12th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel, succeeding his father John Mannion, Snr
who had first been elected to the Seanad in 1954.
Like his father before him, Mannion found Connemara
a difficult base from which seek election to the Dáil. The Galway West constituency includes the city of Galway
and the western part of the county, and Fine Gael support is stronger in the city than in Connemara. His father had won a seat in Dáil Éireann
on his first attempt but was not re-elected in four further attempts. Mannion junior stood unsuccessfully for the Dáil at the 1973 general election
, but in the subsequent Seanad elections he was returned to the 13th Seanad. He was defeated again in the 1975 by-election, but won the seat at the 1977 general election
, ousting the sitting Fine Gael
TD Fintan Coogan
in a year which was otherwise a landslide victory for Fianna Fáil
.
Again like his father, Mannion served only one term in the Dáil; he did not contest the 1981 general election
and did not stand for the Dáil again. However, he was re-elected in 1981 to the 15th Seanad and in 1982 to the 16th Seanad, and retired from the Oireachtas
at the 1983 Seanad election. In later years he was crippled with arthritis
, and died in 2006, aged 62.
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...
party politician from Clifden
Clifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway 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 city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. 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 four 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 10 years.
A farmer, auctioneer and businessman before entering politics, Mannion was a long-serving member of Galway County Council
Galway 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 of the Western Health Board. He was elected in 1969 to the 12th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel, succeeding his father John Mannion, Snr
John Mannion, Snr
John Mannion was an Irish Fine Gael party politician from Clifden, County Galway. He was a Teachta Dála for three years and a senator for 11 years....
who had first been elected to the Seanad in 1954.
Like his father before him, Mannion found Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
a difficult base from which seek election to the Dáil. The Galway West constituency includes the city 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...
and the western part of the county, and Fine Gael support is stronger in the city than in Connemara. His father had 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...
on his first attempt but was not re-elected in four further attempts. Mannion junior stood unsuccessfully for the Dáil 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....
, but in the subsequent Seanad elections he was returned to the 13th Seanad. He was defeated again in the 1975 by-election, but won the 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...
, ousting the sitting 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...
TD Fintan Coogan
Fintan 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....
in a year which was otherwise a landslide victory for Fianna Fáil
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...
.
Again like his father, Mannion served only one term in the Dáil; he did not contest 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 did not stand for the Dáil again. However, he was re-elected in 1981 to the 15th Seanad and in 1982 to the 16th Seanad, and retired from the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
at the 1983 Seanad election. In later years he was crippled with arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, and died in 2006, aged 62.