Paudge Brennan
Encyclopedia
"Paudge" Brennan (18 February 1922 – 10 June 1998) was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
Party politician who sat for 25 years as a TD
for Wicklow
, was briefly a Senator
.
Brennan first stood for election to Dáil Éireann
as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Wicklow
in the 1953 by-election created as a result of the death of his father Tom Brennan. While unsuccessful he was returned at the following 1954 general election
, where he was elected to the 15th Dáil, and was returned at the next four general elections. He topped the poll on each occasion and by virtue of one of the largest votes in the 1957 election managed to secure two seats for Fianna Fáil in the constituency. He was joined by his running mate Jimmy O'Toole.
He served as Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister for Local Government from 1965 until he resigned on 8 May 1970. His resignation followed that of his boss, local government minister Kevin Boland
, in sympathy with Neil Blaney
and Charles Haughey
, who had both been sacked from the cabinet in the Arms Crisis
.
After being expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 1971, Brennan remained an independent and while closely aligned with Kevin Boland did not in fact join Boland's new party, Aontacht Éireann
. He contested the 1973 general election
as an Independent candidate, but he lost his seat to Fianna Fáil's Ciarán Murphy
.
He subsequently rejoined Fianna Fáil, and at the 1981 general election
he was elected again as TD for Wicklow. He lost his seat at the February 1982 election, and was a Taoiseach's nominee to the Seanad
but was re-elected to the Dáil at the November 1982 general election, ousting Ciarán Murphy. Brennan retired from politics at the next election, in 1987
.
His father, Thomas Brennan, was Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow from 1944–1954.
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...
Party politician who sat for 25 years as a 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...
for Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
, was briefly 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...
.
Brennan first stood for election 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...
as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
in the 1953 by-election created as a result of the death of his father Tom Brennan. While unsuccessful he was returned at the following 1954 general election
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....
, where he was elected to the 15th Dáil, and was returned at the next four general elections. He topped the poll on each occasion and by virtue of one of the largest votes in the 1957 election managed to secure two seats for Fianna Fáil in the constituency. He was joined by his running mate Jimmy O'Toole.
He served as Parliamentary Secretary
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
to the Minister for Local Government from 1965 until he resigned on 8 May 1970. His resignation followed that of his boss, local government minister Kevin Boland
Kevin Boland
Kevin Boland , was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1957 as a Fianna Fáil TD. He served as Minister for Defence , Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Local Government...
, in sympathy with Neil Blaney
Neil Blaney
Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...
and 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...
, who had both been sacked from the cabinet in the Arms Crisis
Arms Crisis
The Arms Crisis or Arms Trial was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland in 1970, when two cabinet ministers — Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney — were sacked for allegedly attempting to illegally import arms for the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.-Background:The...
.
After being expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 1971, Brennan remained an independent and while closely aligned with Kevin Boland did not in fact join Boland's new party, Aontacht Éireann
Aontacht Éireann
Aontacht Éireann was an Irish political party founded by Kevin Boland, a former Fianna Fáil government minister and advocate of Irish republicanism...
. He contested 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....
as an Independent candidate, but he lost his seat to Fianna Fáil's Ciarán Murphy
Ciarán Murphy
Ciarán Murphy is a retired Irish Fianna Fáil party politician who was a Teachta Dála for Wicklow from 1973 to 1982.A secondary school teacher before entering politics, Murphy was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1973 general election...
.
He subsequently rejoined Fianna Fáil, and at 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....
he was elected again as TD for Wicklow. He lost his seat at the February 1982 election, and was a Taoiseach's nominee to the Seanad
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...
but was re-elected to the Dáil at the November 1982 general election, ousting Ciarán Murphy. Brennan retired from politics at the next election, in 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...
.
His father, Thomas Brennan, was Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow from 1944–1954.
See also
- Families in the OireachtasFamilies in the OireachtasThere is a tradition in Irish politics of having family members succeed each other, frequently in the same parliamentary seat. This article lists families where two or more members of that family have been members of either of the houses of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament...