Henry Kenny
| Henry Kenny | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | |
| In office 14 March 1973 – 25 September 1975 |
|
| Preceded by | Noel Lemass, Jnr |
| Succeeded by | Michael Begley |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1969 – September 1975 |
|
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Enda Kenny |
| Constituency | Mayo West |
| In office June 1954 – June 1969 |
|
| Preceded by | Dominick Cafferky |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Mayo South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 September 1913 Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | 15 September 1975 (aged 62) Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse(s) | Eithne Kenny |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation | National school teacher |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Henry Kenny (7 September 1913 – 25 September 1975) was an Irish Fine Gael politician from County Mayo and a Gaelic footballer who won an All-Ireland medal with the Mayo inter-county team in 1936.[1] A Teachta Dála (TD) for over 20 years, he was the father of Enda Kenny, the current Taoiseach.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Born in the village of Islandeady near Castlebar, County Mayo, Kenny was educated at the local St. Patrick's national school and St. Gerald's College. He subsequently attended St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra where he qualified as a national school teacher. After graduation he taught in Connemara and Williamstown, County Galway, before being appointed principal of Litir national school in Islandeady, County Mayo.
[edit] Football career
[edit] Club
Kenny played his club Gaelic football with Castlebar Mitchels GAA club and enjoyed much success. He won several county senior championship medals in the 1930s.
[edit] Inter-county
Kenny's prowess at club level earned him a place on the Mayo senior inter-county team. Regarded as one of the best midfielders of his day he was a key member of the record-breaking Mayo team that won six consecutive National Football League titles from 1934 until 1939. Kenny also captured a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal in 1936.
[edit] Political career
Kenny's entry into politics was unusual in the sense that neither he nor his family were steeped in politics at the time. In spite of this he was elected to Dáil Éireann at his first attempt at the 1954 general election as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo South constituency.[2] The election saw Fine Gael enter government as the lead party in the country's second inter-party government. Kenny, as a new TD, remained on the backbenches, however, was subsequently elected to Mayo County Council.
Kenny retained his seat at 1957 general election, however, Fine Gael lost power as Fianna Fáil began sixteen years of uninterrupted rule. During that time he retained his Dáil seat at every general election, even after moving to the Mayo West constituency in 1969. That same year he was appointed Fine Gael spokesperson on the Board of Works, a position he held until 1972. The results of the 1973 general election saw Fine Gael and the Labour Party form a coalition government. Kenny was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance where he had responsibility for the Board of Works.
[edit] Death and private life
Two years after being appointed to the government Kenny was diagnosed with cancer. He died on 25 September 1975. He was survived by his wife Eithne and five children - John, Henry, Enda, Kieran and Marie. His son, Enda, was elected to the Dáil as his replacement at the by-election in 1975.[3][4] He went on to join the cabinet of John Bruton in 1994 as Minister for Trade and Tourism, and is currently the Taoiseach of Ireland and leader of the Fine Gael party. Another son, also Henry Kenny, has been a member of Mayo County Council since 1999.[5] His wife Eithne Kenny died at the age of 93 in Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar on 26 November 2011.[6][7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Mr. Henry Kenny". Oireachtas Members Database. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=20&MemberID=581&ConstID=147. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ "Henry Kenny". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2525. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ "The Restaurant: Enda Kenny". RTÉ Television. http://www.rte.ie/tv/therestaurant/endakenny/kenny_enda.html. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ Siggins, Lorna (18 June 2010). "Only for Enda, there wouldn't be a Fine Gael party today". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0618/1224272793210.html.
- ^ "Henry Kenny, Jnr". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8522. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ "Taoiseach's mother dies at the age of 93". Irish Independent. 26 November 2011. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/taoiseachs-mother-dies-at-the-age-of-93-2946769.html.
- ^ "Enda Kenny's mother dies aged 93". RTÉ News. 28 November 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1126/kenny_eithne.html.
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dominick Cafferky (Clann na Talmhan) |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Mayo South 1954–1969 |
Succeeded by Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Mayo West 1969–1975 |
Succeeded by Enda Kenny (Fine Gael) |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Noel Lemass, Jnr |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance 1973–1975 |
Succeeded by Michael Begley |
- 1913 births
- 1975 deaths
- Cancer deaths in the Republic of Ireland
- Fine Gael politicians
- Irish schoolteachers
- Kenny family
- Mayo Gaelic footballers
- Members of the 15th Dáil
- Members of the 16th Dáil
- Members of the 17th Dáil
- Members of the 18th Dáil
- Members of the 19th Dáil
- Members of the 20th Dáil
- People from County Mayo
- Teachtaí Dála
- Parents of national leaders
