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Alan Dillon

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Alan Dillon
TD
Dillon in 2024
Minister of State
2024–Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyMayo
Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party
In office
25 October 2023 – 17 April 2024
Leader
Preceded byRichard Bruton
Succeeded byAlan Farrell
Personal details
Born (1982-09-28) 28 September 1982 (age 42)
Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Ashling Dillon
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2
EducationDavitt College
Alma mater
Websitealandillon.ie
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left half forward
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Club(s)
Years Club
1999–
 Ballintubber
Club titles
Mayo titles 5
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2003–2017
 Mayo 134 (3–225)
Inter-county titles
Connacht titles 8
All Stars 2
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 28 November 2017.

Alan Dillon (born 28 September 1982) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency since the 2020 general election.[1]

Prior to entering politics, he was a two-time All Star winning Gaelic footballer who captained the senior Mayo county team.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

He is married to Ashling Dillon, and they have two sons. Dillon attended Davitt College in Castlebar for his secondary school education.[3] He studied at NUI Galway,[4] and played for the university football team.[5] Dillon has a MSc in Pharmaceutical Science from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from NUI Galway, and a BSc in Applied Mathematics and Biology from Maynooth University.[6] Dillon has also participated in a marketing campaign for Ireland West Airport.[7]

Gaelic football career

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Dillon played football with his local club Ballintubber in County Mayo and was a pivotal member of the senior Mayo county team from 2003 until his retirement in 2017, playing in six All-Ireland finals. His fine-tuned skill, his sharp roving eye and his clever reading of the game all contribute to his exceptional footballing abilities. Dillon won his first All Star award in 2006[8] and a second All Star award in 2012.

On 28 November 2017, Dillon announced his retirement from inter-county football.[9][10][11]

Political career

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Following his retirement from inter-county football in 2017, there was much speculation that Dillon would succeed former Taoiseach Enda Kenny as a Fine Gael candidate for Mayo.[12][13] He has numerous links to Fine Gael, an aunt having been Enda Kenny's Castlebar secretary and her husband being Kenny's driver and a county councillor.[14]

He successfully stood as a Fine Gael candidate at the 2020 general election in the Mayo constituency.[15] In July 2020, Dillon was elected as the secretary of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, following its AGM in the Convention Centre Dublin.

In October 2023, Dillon succeeded Richard Bruton as the chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party.[16] He served as chair until April 2024, when he was succeeded by Alan Farrell.[17]

On 10 April 2024, Dillon was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.[18]

At the 2024 general election, Dillon was re-elected to the Dáil.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Alan Dillon". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Dillon to captain Mayo". Hogan Stand. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Alan Dillon, the man who made it look easy". Mayo News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  4. ^ "NUI Galway students and alumni head for Croke Park with Mayo senior football finalists". NUI Galway. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Gardiner digs deep to bury IT Sligo". Irish Independent. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Alan Dillon". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Donegal GAA stars join forces as Ambassadors for Ireland West Airport Knock". Donegal Democrat. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Champions Kerry top All Star list". RTÉ. 22 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Eight-time Connacht champion Alan Dillon calls time on his Mayo career". The 42. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  10. ^ Murphy, Ciaran. "Ciarán Murphy: Alan Dillon leaves knowing he gave it his all". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Alan Dillon calls it a day with Mayo". RTÉ. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  12. ^ Finn, Christina (1 December 2017). "Mayo GAA star lined up for general election bid to replace Enda Kenny". The Journal. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Fine Gael and Alan Dillon in talks about surprise General Election bid". Mayo News. 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  14. ^ Shannon, Kieran (24 February 2018). "Alan Dillon: Bring our people home". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 7 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Mayo: 2020 General Election". Ireland Election. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  16. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (25 October 2023). "Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon elected chair of parliamentary party". Irish Independent. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  17. ^ Sherlock, Cillian (17 April 2024). "Alan Farrell named Fine Gael chairman". Sunday Business Post. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Dillon, Higgins and Burke appointed as junior ministers". RTÉ News. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
2024–present 		Incumbent
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