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Kevin "Boxer" Moran

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Kevin "Boxer" Moran
TD
Moran in 2024
Minister of State
2025–Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
2017–2020Public Expenditure and Reform
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 2024
In office
February 2016 – February 2020
ConstituencyLongford–Westmeath
Personal details
Born (1967-04-09) 9 April 1967 (age 58)[1][2]
Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
PartyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Fianna Fáil (until 2011)
Spouse
Michelle Fagg
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

Kevin Moran (born 9 April 1967)[1] is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Minister of State since January 2025, having previously served from 2017 to 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2016 to 2020.[3] He was a member of Westmeath County Council from June to November 2024.

Political career

[edit]

He was a member of Westmeath County Council from 1999 to 2016, and represented Fianna Fáil until 2011.[4][5] In January 2006, he contested Fianna Fáil's nomination to stand at the 2007 general election, being narrowly defeated by Mary O'Rourke.[6] He contested the 2014 by-election as an independent candidate, but failed to win a seat. He joined the Independent Alliance ahead of the 2016 general election.[5] Moran was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2016 general election. After lengthy government formation talks, the Independent Alliance supported the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 6 May 2016, allowing Kenny to become the first leader of Fine Gael to be re-elected to this office.[7]

On 3 June 2017, he was appointed by the government as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief.[8] This was part of arrangement with fellow Independent Alliance TD Seán Canney, who had been serving in that position.[9] Moran's appointment lapsed on the resignation of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach later that month on 14 June. On 20 June 2017, Moran was appointed by the government formed by Leo Varadkar to the same position.[10][11]

He lost his seat at the 2020 general election, continuing to serve as a minister of state until the formation of a new government on 27 June 2020.

In January 2022, he was expected to become a member of Westmeath County Council after his son Jamie resigned his position on the council due to work commitments.[12] However his admission was not accepted by the majority of the incumbent council.[13][14]

He was elected at the 2024 Westmeath County Council election, topping the poll with 39.64% of the vote and being elected on the first count.[15] At the 2024 general election, he regained a seat in Longford–Westmeath. In January 2025, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

Personal life

[edit]

Moran has said that he left school in his early teens due to severe, undiagnosed dyslexia and associated literacy difficulties.[16][17] He has described attempting to conceal his difficulties at school by acting as a troublemaker so that he would be removed from class, and one local report stated that he was expelled from Marist College (Athlone) after a matter of weeks before leaving education completely.[16][17] After leaving school, he worked in the building trade and later became self-employed, developing a taxi business in Athlone; he has continued to be described in media profiles as a taxi driver.[16][17][18]

Moran has spoken publicly about mental health difficulties, including depression and panic attacks, and about an attempt to take his own life when he was a young man.[16] He has said that the death of his younger brother in a motorcycle accident contributed to a difficult period in his life, and that he later decided to speak openly after hearing public criticism relating to his education.[16][19] Following his television interview on the subject, Moran told The Irish Times he received extensive correspondence from people affected by mental health and literacy issues and planned a meeting to bring people with literacy difficulties and mental health problems together with government ministers.[20]

In interviews, Moran has described dyslexia-related barriers affecting adults in employment and training, and he has said that people contacted him after his televised interview to describe difficulties with written examinations and access to supports.[21]

Moran is married to Michelle Fagg and has two children.[18] [22] In 2024, he publicly thanked his wife and wider family for their support and discussed the impact of abusive commentary on social media on political families.[23]

According to a Government of Ireland biography, Moran has been involved in organising community events in Athlone (including the Athlone St Patrick’s Day Parade and local festivals) and is a sports enthusiast with interests including angling; he has also been described as a long-time supporter of Athlone Town F.C. and local GAA and rugby events.[24] A 2016 profile in The Irish Times described him as a keen angler who had promoted amenities around Lough Ree and been involved in flood-relief volunteering in Athlone.[22]

Moran is often referred to by the nickname "Boxer", a nickname which arose from him hitting an opponent in a football game at the age of 12.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cosgrove, Liam (15 April 2025). "'Have you a cake for me?' – Kevin 'Boxer' Moran leaves Upper House in hysterics as senators mark his 58th birthday". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Seanad Éireann debate". Oireachtas.ie. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Kevin Moran". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Kevin Moran". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Election 2016: Kevin "Boxer" Moran". RTÉ. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  6. ^ "O'Rourke Sparks Row Over 'Blacks' Remark". Irish Independent. 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Enda Kenny is re-elected as Taoiseach in the Dáil". Newstalk. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  8. ^ "2017 Edition, No. 46" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 9 June 2017. pp. 789–791. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Moran takes up ministerial role in coin-flip deal". RTÉ.ie. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  10. ^ "2017 Edition, No. 52" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 30 June 2017. p. 883. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Former TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran expected to fill son's vacant council seat". RTÉ News. 7 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Former junior minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran loses out in political comeback bid". Irish Independent. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Boxer issues scathing attack on FF/Green 'naked power grab'". Westmeath Independent. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Local elections 2024 – Westmeath fills all 20 seats with Sinn Féin and Independent Ireland making gains". Irish Independent. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e Holland, Kitty (19 May 2017). "Kevin 'Boxer' Moran TD reveals bid to take his own life". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "'Boxer' bares all on dyslexia and mental health issues". Advertiser.ie. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  18. ^ a b Farrell, Stephen (2 December 2024). "Longford Westmeath: Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Ind)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  19. ^ "TD Boxer Moran praised for raw and candid interview about suicide attempt". Irish Examiner. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  20. ^ "People reach out to 'Boxer' Moran after TV interview on suicide". The Irish Times. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  21. ^ "'Boxer' Moran: 'Yes, I have difficulties with reading, but I am as clever a man as you will ever meet'". TheJournal.ie. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Profile: Kevin "Boxer" Moran (Ind)". The Irish Times. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  23. ^ Cusack, Adrian (23 December 2024). "Boxer says comeback to Dáil represents 'a dream come true'". Westmeath Independent. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Kevin 'Boxer' Moran". Gov.ie. Government of Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  25. ^ Pope, Conor. "'Boxer' Moran has the aura of a champion among Athlone fans". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
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