Liam Ahern
Encyclopedia
Liam Ahern also known as William Ahern, was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician who served in both Dáil Éireann
and Seanad Éireann
.
A farmer
and agricultural contractor, Ahern was first elected to the 9th Seanad in 1957 on the Labour Panel. In 1961 he was returned to the 10th Seanad on the Administrative Panel, and re-elected by the same panel to the 11th Seanad in 1965.
At the 1969 general election
, he stood for election to the 19th Dáil in the Cork North East
constituency, but was narrowly beaten by his Fianna Fáil colleague Seán Brosnan
. After his defeat, Ahern was returned to the 12th Seanad by the Administrative Panel.
At the 1973 general election
, he again contested Cork North East, where he came fourth out of the four successful candidates, unseating the sitting Fianna Fáil TD
Seán Brosnan. A Fine Gael
–Labour Party
coalition government under Taoiseach
Liam Cosgrave
took power at that election, ending a sixteen-year period of Fianna Fáil
government, and Ahern found himself in opposition for the first time in his career in the Oireachtas
.
He died in July 1974 at the age of 58, triggering a by-election on 13 November 1974 in which his seat was retained for Fianna Fáil
by Seán Brosnan
.
Ahern's uncle, John Dinneen
, was also a member of the Dáil between 1922 and 1927. His son Michael Ahern
is a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East
. Another son, auctioneer Maurice Ahern had been a long standing FF councillor for the Midleton Electoral Area of Cork County Council, but lost his seat in the 2009 local elections.
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,...
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...
politician who served in both 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...
and 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...
.
A farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and agricultural contractor, Ahern was first elected to the 9th Seanad in 1957 on the Labour Panel. In 1961 he was returned to the 10th Seanad on the Administrative Panel, and re-elected by the same panel to the 11th Seanad in 1965.
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...
, he stood for election to the 19th Dáil in the Cork North East
Cork North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork North–East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1961 to 1981. The constituency elected 5 deputies to the Dáil until 1969, and then 4 thereafter...
constituency, but was narrowly beaten by his Fianna Fáil colleague Seán Brosnan
Seán Brosnan
Seán Brosnan was an Irish barrister and Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork. He served for 10 years in the Oireachtas, as a Teachta Dála and as a Senator....
. After his defeat, Ahern was returned to the 12th Seanad by the Administrative Panel.
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....
, he again contested Cork North East, where he came fourth out of the four successful candidates, unseating the sitting Fianna Fáil TD
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...
Seán Brosnan. A 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...
–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...
coalition government under 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...
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....
took power at that election, ending a sixteen-year period of 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...
government, and Ahern found himself in opposition for the first time in his career in 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...
.
He died in July 1974 at the age of 58, triggering a by-election on 13 November 1974 in which his seat was retained 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...
by Seán Brosnan
Seán Brosnan
Seán Brosnan was an Irish barrister and Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork. He served for 10 years in the Oireachtas, as a Teachta Dála and as a Senator....
.
Ahern's uncle, John Dinneen
John Dinneen
John Dinneen was an Irish Farmers' Party politician. A farmer by profession, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1922 general election as a Farmers' Party Teachta Dála for the Cork East and North East constituency. He was re-elected at the 1923 general election for the Cork East...
, was also a member of the Dáil between 1922 and 1927. His son Michael Ahern
Michael Ahern (Irish politician)
Michael Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011.-Biography:Michael Ahern was born in Dungourney, County Cork...
is a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East
Cork East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
. Another son, auctioneer Maurice Ahern had been a long standing FF councillor for the Midleton Electoral Area of Cork County Council, but lost his seat in the 2009 local elections.