Michael Enright (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Enright was a Democratic Left
politician from County Wexford
in Ireland
. He was a member of Wexford Corporation and served briefly as a senator
in 1997.
Born in Ennis
, County Clare
, Enright was a teacher at Kilmuckridge
Vocational School in County Wexford
. An officer of Wexford Council of Trade Unions, he joined the Labour Party
in 1973, and in the 1979 local elections he stood as a candidate for the Socialist Labour Party
. He joined the Workers' Party
in 1982 and was elected to Wexford Corporation in 1985; he remained a councillor until his death 12 years later. At the 1987
and 1989 general election
s, he stood unsuccessfully as a Workers' Party candidate in the Wexford constituency
, and also failed to win a seat in the European Parliament
when he stood in the Leinster constituency
at the 1989 European election
.
When the Workers' Party split in 1992, he joined the breakaway Democratic Left
, later becoming a members of the party's executive committee. He contested the 1992
and 1997 general election
s as Democratic Left candidate, but again failed to win a seat.
In June 1997, Enright was nominated by the Taoiseach
, John Bruton
as member of the outgoing 20th Seanad, serving until the elections in August for the 21st Seanad. He had been a member of Teastas, the Irish National Certification Authority, since it was set up in 1995.
He died aged 45 on 16 October 1997. He was returning from a Teastas meeting in Dublin when his car was involved in a head-on-collision near Arklow
with a vehicle traveling at high speeds without lights. Tributes were paid to him in both the Dáil and the Seanad.
Democratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
politician from County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
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 member of Wexford Corporation and served briefly as 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...
in 1997.
Born in Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Enright was a teacher at Kilmuckridge
Kilmuckridge
Kilmuckridge is a small village in County Wexford in Ireland near the Irish Sea coast which is popular with weekend visitors and holidaymakers. It lies on the R742 regional road south of Gorey....
Vocational School in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. An officer of Wexford Council of Trade Unions, he 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...
in 1973, and in the 1979 local elections he stood as a candidate for 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...
. He joined the Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
in 1982 and was elected to Wexford Corporation in 1985; he remained a councillor until his death 12 years later. At the 1987
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...
and 1989 general election
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...
s, he stood unsuccessfully as a Workers' Party candidate in the Wexford constituency
Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
, and also failed to win a seat in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
when he stood in the Leinster constituency
Leinster (European Parliament constituency)
-1999 election:Alan Gillis lost his seat to his party running mate Avril Doyle.-1994 election:Alan Gillis replaced his party colleague Patrick Cooney who had stepped down...
at the 1989 European election
European Parliament election, 1989 (Ireland)
The 1989 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1989 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details:-See also:...
.
When the Workers' Party split in 1992, he joined the breakaway Democratic Left
Democratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
, later becoming a members of the party's executive committee. He contested the 1992
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...
and 1997 general election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
s as Democratic Left candidate, but again failed to win a seat.
In June 1997, Enright was nominated by the 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...
, John Bruton
John Bruton
John Gerard Bruton is an Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1994 to 1997. A minister under two taoisigh, Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald, Bruton held a number of the top posts in Irish government, including Minister for Finance , and Minister for Industry, Trade,...
as member of the outgoing 20th Seanad, serving until the elections in August for the 21st Seanad. He had been a member of Teastas, the Irish National Certification Authority, since it was set up in 1995.
He died aged 45 on 16 October 1997. He was returning from a Teastas meeting in Dublin when his car was involved in a head-on-collision near Arklow
Arklow
Arklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
with a vehicle traveling at high speeds without lights. Tributes were paid to him in both the Dáil and the Seanad.