Seán Gibbons
Encyclopedia
Séan Francis Gibbons was an Irish
politician who sat as Cumann na nGaedheal TD
in the 1920s and as a Fianna Fáil
TD in the 1930s. He later became a Senator
, and was Cathaoirleach
(chairperson) of the Seanad for five years.
Gibbons was elected to Dáil Éireann
on his first attempt, as a Cumann na nGaedheal candidate in the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency at the 1923 general election
. However, he was not an active participant in proceedings because his health was poor, requiring him to leave the country at one point.
He left Cumann na nGaedhael to join the Farmers' Party
and resigned his seat in the 4th Dáil on 30 October 1924, only 14 months after his election. The by-election for his seat was held on 11 March 1925 and won by Cumann na nGaedheal's Thomas Bolger
.
After the collapse of the Farmers' Party in 1927, Gibbons joined Fianna Fáil
, and stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Carlow–Kilkenny at the 1932 general election
, winning one of his party's fifteen new seats in the 7th Dáil. He was returned at the 1933 election
, but after the constituency was divided under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, he lost his seat at the 1937 general election
in the new Kilkenny
constituency.
He then stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate for election to Seanad Éireann
on the Agricultural Panel, winning a seat in the 2nd Seanad and becoming Cathaoirleach
(chairperson). He remained as Cathoirleach in the 3rd Seanad, holding the office until 1944, when was re-elected to the 4th Seanad. He did not sit in the 5th Seanad, but was re-elected by the Agricultural Panel to the 6th Seanad, from 1948–1951.
He died on 19 April 1952, aged 68. Five years later, his nephew Jim Gibbons
was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in the restored Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency, where Jim's son Martin was a Progressive Democrat
TDs from 1987–1989. Another of Jim's son, Jim, Jr was a Progressive Democrat Senator
.
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 who sat as Cumann na nGaedheal 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...
in the 1920s and as a 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...
TD in the 1930s. He later became 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...
, and was Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(chairperson) of the Seanad for five years.
Gibbons 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 Cumann na nGaedheal candidate in the Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency at the 1923 general election
Irish general election, 1923
The Irish general election of 1923 was held on 27 August 1923. The newly elected members of the 4th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 19 September when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed. The election was held just after the end...
. However, he was not an active participant in proceedings because his health was poor, requiring him to leave the country at one point.
He left Cumann na nGaedhael to join the Farmers' Party
Farmers' Party (Ireland)
The Farmers' Party or Farmers' Union was an agrarian political party in the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1932. It was concerned almost exclusively with the interests of the agricultural community, and never sought to widen its scope beyond the countryside.The party won seven seats in Dáil...
and resigned his seat in the 4th Dáil on 30 October 1924, only 14 months after his election. The by-election for his seat was held on 11 March 1925 and won by Cumann na nGaedheal's Thomas Bolger
Thomas Bolger
Thomas Bolger was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician who was a Teachta Dála for two years in the 1920s.Bolger was an unsuccessful Cumann na nGaedheal candidate in the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 1923 general election...
.
After the collapse of the Farmers' Party in 1927, Gibbons joined 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...
, and stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Carlow–Kilkenny at the 1932 general election
Irish general election, 1932
The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of...
, winning one of his party's fifteen new seats in the 7th Dáil. He was returned at the 1933 election
Irish general election, 1933
The Irish general election of 1933 was held on 24 January 1933. The newly elected members of the 8th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 8 February when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed....
, but after the constituency was divided under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, he lost his seat at the 1937 general election
Irish general election, 1937
The Irish general election of 1937 was held on 1 July 1937, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 14 June. A plebiscite to ratify the Constitution of Ireland was held on the same day...
in the new Kilkenny
Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Kilkenny was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1937 to 1948. The constituency elected 3 deputies to the Dáil, using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History :The constituency was...
constituency.
He then stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate for election 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 Agricultural Panel, winning a seat in the 2nd Seanad and becoming Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(chairperson). He remained as Cathoirleach in the 3rd Seanad, holding the office until 1944, when was re-elected to the 4th Seanad. He did not sit in the 5th Seanad, but was re-elected by the Agricultural Panel to the 6th Seanad, from 1948–1951.
He died on 19 April 1952, aged 68. Five years later, his nephew Jim Gibbons
Jim Gibbons (Irish politician)
James "Jim" Gibbons was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected in 1957 as a Teachta Dála for Carlow–Kilkenny. He held his seat until 1982...
was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in the restored Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency, where Jim's son Martin was a Progressive Democrat
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
TDs from 1987–1989. Another of Jim's son, Jim, Jr was a Progressive Democrat 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...
.
External links
- Séan Gibbons's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)