Records of members of the Oireachtas
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2013) |
This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas (National Parliament of Ireland).[1] The First Dáil Éireann consisted of the Sinn Féin MPs who were elected in the United Kingdom general election of 14 December 1918. They refused to attend the British House of Commons and instead assembled for the first time on 21 January 1919 in the Mansion House in Dublin as the revolutionary unicameral Dáil Éireann.
1118 Teachtaí Dála (TDs) served in the Dáil between 1919 and 2003. The title Father of the Dáil is usually and unofficially conferred on the longest-serving member.
Longest-serving former TDs
This is a list of former TDs who have served at least 30 years in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election. It can be assumed unless stated otherwise that the member did not stand in the end-date election, as opposed to standing and failing to be elected.
Shortest-serving former TDs
This is a list of former TDs who served for less than 1 year in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election.
The following were eligible for membership of the Dáil, but as Unionists, they did not recognise it. Those elected to Westminster in 1918 were eligible for the First Dáil.[2]
| Name | Party | Elected | Vacated Westminster seat | Months | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Anderson | style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | | Irish Unionist Alliance | 1918 | Resignation in 1919 | < 3m | By-election was held on 4 March 1919 |
| Robert McCalmont | style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | | Irish Unionist Alliance | 1918 | Appointment as Commander of the Irish Guards in 1919 | < 6m | By-election was held on 27 May 1919 |
| Arthur Warren Samuels | style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | | Irish Unionist Alliance | 1918 | Appointment to the King's Bench in 1919 | < 8m | By-election was held on 28 July 1919 |
Current office-holders, longest service in the Oireachtas
This is a list of current members of the Oireachtas who have served for at least 20 years, with continuous or broken service. Unless otherwise specified, start dates given are those of the relevant election.
| Name | Party | Office | First elected/appointed b = by-election |
Years/Months (as of 7 November 2024) |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enda Kenny | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1975 b | 48 years, 11 months | Current Taoiseach and Father of the Dáil |
| Michael D. Higgins | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | Senator / TD / President |
1973 | 37 years, 8 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Current President of Ireland Did not hold office between 1977 and 1981, and February and November 2011 |
| Michael Noonan | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1981 | 43 years, 4 months | |
| Bernard Durkan | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD / Senator | 1981 | 43 years, 4 months | Senator from February 1982 to November 1982 |
| Richard Bruton | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Senator / TD | 1981 | 43 years | Senator from October 1981 to February 1982 |
| Shane Ross | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | Senator / TD | 1981 | 43 years | Senator from 1981 to 2011 |
| Willie O'Dea | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD | February 1982 | 42 years, 8 months | |
| Brendan Howlin | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | Senator / TD | 1983 | 41 years, 8 months | Senator from 1983 to 1987 |
| Seán Barrett | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1981 | 29 years, 5 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Did not hold office between 2002 and 2007 |
| Michael Lowry | style="background-color: Template:Independent/meta/color" | | Independent | TD | 1987 | 37 years, 8 months | |
| Terry Leyden | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD / Senator | 1977 | 28 years, 9 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Did not hold office for 9y, 9m between December 1992 and September 2002 |
| David Norris | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | Senator | 1987 | 37 years, 6 months | |
| Micheál Martin | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD | 1989 | 35 years, 4 months | Leader of Fianna Fáil |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Senator / TD | 1989 | 35 years, 1 month | Senator from 1989 to 1992 |
| Charles Flanagan | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1987 | 23 years, 10 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Did not hold office between 2002 and 2007 |
| Sean Haughey | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD | 1987 | 23 years, 10 month(s) (as of Mar 2016) |
Senator from 1987 to 1992. Did not hold office between February 2011 and February 2016. |
| Tommy Broughan | style="background-color: Template:Independents 4 Change/meta/color" | | Independents 4 Change | TD | 1992 | 31 years, 11 months | |
| Willie Penrose | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | TD | 1992 | 31 years, 11 months | |
| Róisín Shortall | style="background-color: Template:Social Democrats (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Social Democrats | TD | 1992 | 31 years, 11 months | |
| Brendan Smith | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD | 1992 | 31 years, 11 months | |
| Pat the Cope Gallagher | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | TD | 1981 | 23 years, 1 month(s) (as of Mar 2016) |
Did not hold office between June 1997 and May 2002 and between June 2009 and February 2016. |
| Billy Kelleher | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Senator / TD | 1993 | 31 years, 8 months | Senator from 1993 to 1997 |
| Paddy Burke | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Senator | 1993 | 31 years, 8 months | Current Cathaoirleach |
| Jan O'Sullivan | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | TD / Senator | 1993 | 22 years, 1 month (as of Jan 2016) |
Senator from 1993 to 1997 Did not hold office between June 1997 and March 1998 |
| Michael Ring | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1994 b | 30 years, 4 months | |
| Michael Creed | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | TD | 1989 | 21 years, 7 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Did not hold office between May 2002 and May 2007 |
| Denis O'Donovan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Senator / TD | 1989 | 21 years, 5 month(s) (as of Jan 2016) |
Did not hold office between December 1992 and September 1997 |
Longest-serving Senators
This is a list of current and former Senators who have served for at least 20 years in the Seanad, including both the Free State Seanad and the Seanad established under the 1937 Constitution. There was a 22-month gap between the abolition of the Free State Seanad in 1936 and the inauguration in 1938 of the 2nd Seanad, the first incarnation of the new body.
| Name | Party | First elected | Vacated seat | Years/Months | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Barniville | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 6 December 1922 | 23 September 1960 | 35 years, 11 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad |
| Margaret Mary Pearse | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938 | 7 November 1968 | 30 years, 6 months | |
| Eoin Ryan, Snr | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 22 May 1957 | 3 April 1987 | 29 years, 10 months | |
| Liam Ó Buachalla | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 7 October 1939 | 24 July 1969 | 29 years, 9 months | |
| Shane Ross | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 8 October 1981 | 26 February 2011 | 29 years, 4 months | |
| David Norris† | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 25 April 1987 | Incumbent | 37 years, 6 months | |
| James G. Douglas | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 6 December 1922 | 16 September 1954 | 28 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad; Did not serve in 4th Seanad |
| Rory Kiely | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 27 October 1977 | 22 July 2007 | 28 years, 9 months | Did not serve in 16th Seanad |
| Patrick McGowan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 23 June 1965 | 3 October 1999 | 28 years, 5 months | Did not serve in 15th, 16th and 17th Seanad |
| Des Hanafin | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 5 November 1969 | 26 June 2002 | 27 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 20th Seanad |
| William Ryan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 14 December 1961 | 5 July 1989 | 27 years, 6 months | |
| Michael Hayes | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 27 years | |
| Charles McDonald | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 14 December 1961 | 17 December 1992 | 26 years, 4 months | Did not serve in 13th Seanad |
| Paschal Mooney | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987 | April 2016 | 26 years, 4 months | Did not serve 2y, 6m from July 2007 to January 2010 |
| John Counihan | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 6 December 1922 | 25 July 1951 | 26 years, 3 months | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad |
| Thomas Ruane | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 6 December 1934 | 28 April 1965 | 25 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad; Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad |
| Patrick O'Reilly | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 18 August 1944 | 24 July 1969 | 24 years, 11 months | |
| Seán O'Donovan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938 | 24 July 1969 | 24 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 6th and 8th Seanad |
| Mick Lanigan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 27 October 1977 | 26 June 2002 | 24 years, 7 months | |
| Joe O'Toole | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 25 April 1987 | 29 April 2011 | 24 years | |
| Donie Cassidy | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 13 May 1982 | 29 April 2011 | 24 years | Did not serve in 22nd Seanad from 2002 to 2007 |
| Paddy Burke† | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 17 February 1993 | Incumbent | 31 years, 8 months | |
| Feargal Quinn | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 17 February 1993 | April 2016 | 23 years, 2 months | |
| James Parkinson | style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | Cumann na nGaedheal | 6 December 1922 | 31 July 1947 | 22 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad |
| Patrick Baxter | style="background-color: Template:Clann na Talmhan/meta/color" | | Clann na Talmhan | 6 December 1934 | 3 April 1959 | 22 years, 5 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad |
| John Butler | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 22 years, 3 months | Did not serve in 9th Seanad |
| Seán Hayes | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad |
| William O'Callaghan | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 27 April 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th Seanad |
| James Tunney | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | 27 April 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th Seanad |
| Thomas Foran | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | | Labour Party | 28 November 1923 | 12 March 1948 | 22 years | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad |
| Patrick Fitzsimons | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 21 April 1948 | 30 March 1973 | 22 years | Did not serve in 8th Seanad |
| Peter Lynch | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 7 September 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years | |
| Sir John Keane | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 6 December 1922 | 12 March 1948 | 21 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 1934–36 Seanad |
| Francis O'Brien | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 1 October 1989 | 29 April 2011 | 21 years, 7 months | |
| William Quirke | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 6 December 1931 | 5 March 1955 | 21 years, 4 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad |
| William Bedell Stanford | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 21 April 1948 | 24 July 1969 | 21 years, 3 months | |
| Michael Yeats | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 14 August 1951 | 12 March 1980 | 21 years | Did not serve in 8th and 9th Seanad |
| James Dooge | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 14 December 1961 | 3 April 1987 | 20 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 14th Seanad |
| Micheál Prendergast | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | 22 July 1954 | 26 May 1977 | 20 years, 9 months | Did not serve from March 1973 to April 1975 |
| Brian Mullooly | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 8 October 1981 | 26 June 2002 | 20 years, 8 months | |
| Brendan Ryan | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 13 May 1982 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 5 months | Did not serve in 20th Seanad |
| Eddie Bohan | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 2 months | |
| Don Lydon | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 2 months | |
| Bernard McGlinchey | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | 14 December 1961 | 21 December 1982 | 20 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 15th Seanad |
| Patrick Quinlan | style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | | Independent | 22 May 1957 | 26 May 1977 | 20 years | |
†Serving senator
Oldest living former office-holders
Aged 85 or older:
| Name | Office(s) held | Date of birth | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Filgate | TD | 16 September 1915 | 109 years, 1 month |
| T. K. Whitaker | Senator | 8 December 1916 | 107 years, 10 months |
| Liam Cosgrave | Taoiseach | 13 April 1920 | 104 years, 6 months |
| Joseph Dowling | TD / Senator | 2 February 1922 | 102 years, 9 months |
| Thomas Finlay | TD / Chief Justice | 17 September 1922 | 102 years, 1 month |
| Seán Treacy | Ceann Comhairle | 23 September 1923 | 101 years, 1 month |
| Donal Creed | TD | 7 September 1924 | 100 years, 2 months |
| Patrick Byrne | TD | 2 April 1925 | 99 years, 7 months |
| Hugh Conaghan | TD | 6 May 1926 | 98 years, 6 months |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | TD | 29 July 1926 | 98 years, 3 months |
| Tom O'Donnell | TD | 30 August 1926 | 98 years, 2 months |
| John A. Murphy | Senator | 17 January 1927 | 97 years, 9 months |
| Jimmy Leonard | TD | 5 June 1927 | 97 years, 5 months |
| Maurice Hayes | Senator | 8 July 1927 | 97 years, 3 months |
| Jackie Fahey | TD | 23 January 1928 | 96 years, 9 months |
| Joan Burke | TD | 8 February 1928 | 96 years, 8 months |
| William J. Murphy | TD | 17 May 1928 | 96 years, 5 months |
| Patrick Norton | TD / Senator | 1928 | 95 years, 10 months+ |
| Richie Ryan | TD / MEP | 27 February 1929 | 95 years, 8 months |
| Tras Honan | Senator | 4 January 1930 | 94 years, 10 months |
| Fergus O'Brien | TD | 30 March 1930 | 94 years, 7 months |
| Kieran Crotty | TD | 30 August 1930 | 94 years, 2 months |
| Des Hanafin | Senator | 9 September 1930 | 94 years, 1 month |
| Patrick Cooney | TD / Senator / MEP | 2 March 1931 | 93 years, 8 months |
Oldest ever office-holders
Office holders aged 75 or older:
| Name | Office | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Éamon de Valera | President | Retired aged 90 | 1973 |
| Gerald Boland | Senator | Retired aged 84 | 1969 |
| Seán MacEntee | TD | Retired aged 80 | 1969 |
| Maurice Hayes | Senator | Retired aged 80 | 2007 |
| Charles Fagan | TD | Retired aged 80 | 1961 |
| Jackie Healy-Rae | TD | Retired aged 79 | 2011 |
| Feargal Quinn | Senator | Retired aged 79 | 2016 |
| James Everett | TD | Died aged 78 | 1967 |
| James Ryan | Senator | Retired aged 77 | 1969 |
| Seán T. O'Kelly | President | Retired aged 77 | 1959 |
| P. J. Sheehan | TD | Retired aged 77 | 2011 |
| Rory O'Hanlon | TD | Retired aged 77 | 2011 |
| Paddy Smith | TD | Retired aged 76 | 1977 |
| Ann Ormonde | Senator | Lost seat aged 76 | 2011 |
| Labhrás Ó Murchú | Senator | Retired aged 76 | 2016 |
| Michael D. Higgins | President | In office aged 83 years, 6 months | — |
Youngest ever office-holders
| Name | Office | Age on election | Year elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| William J. Murphy | TD | 21y 1m | 1949 |
| Joseph Sweeney | TD | 21y 6m | 1918 |
| Lorcan Allen | TD | 21y 6m | 1961 |
| Kathleen O'Connor | TD | 21y 7m | 1956 |
| Ivan Yates | TD | 21y 8m | 1981 |
| Mary Coughlan | TD | 21y 9m | 1987 |
| John Bruton | TD | 22y 1m | 1969 |
| Paddy Smith | TD | 22y 2m | 1923 |
| Miriam Kearney | Senator | 22y 3m | 1981 |
| Myra Barry | TD | 22y 4m | 1979 |
| Síle de Valera | TD | 22y 6m | 1977 |
| Kathryn Reilly | Senator | 22y 7m | 2011 |
| Oliver J. Flanagan | TD | 23y 1m | 1943 |
| Liam Cosgrave | TD | 23y 2m | 1943 |
Longest surviving cabinet members
Longest surviving Dáil members
| Dáil | Election | Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Dáil | 1918 | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| 2nd Dáil | 1921 | Tom Maguire (died 1993) |
| 3rd Dáil | 1922 | |
| 4th Dáil | 1923 | |
| 5th Dáil | 1927 (June) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| 6th Dáil | 1927 (Sep) | |
| 7th Dáil | 1932 | James Dillon (died 1986) |
| 8th Dáil | 1933 | James McGuire (died 1989) |
| 9th Dáil | 1937 | James Dillon (died 1986) |
| 10th Dáil | 1938 | |
| 11th Dáil | 1943 | Liam Cosgrave |
| 12th Dáil | 1944 | |
| 13th Dáil | 1948 | Liam Cosgrave, William J. Murphy |
| 14th Dáil | 1951 | Liam Cosgrave |
| 15th Dáil | 1954 | Patrick Byrne, Liam Cosgrave, Thomas Finlay, Kathleen O'Connor |
| 16th Dáil | 1957 | Patrick Byrne, Liam Cosgrave, Brigid Hogan, Richie Ryan |
| 17th Dáil | 1961 | Lorcan Allen, Joan Burke, Patrick Byrne, Liam Cosgrave, John Donnellan, Paddy Harte, Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins, Tom O'Donnell, Séamus Pattison, Richie Ryan, Seán Treacy |
Longest lived former office-holders
Aged 90 or more at time of death:
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Maguire | 28 March 1892 | 5 July 1993 | 101y 4m |
| Eddie Filgate | 16 September 1915 | 109 years, 1 month | |
| T. K. Whitaker | 8 December 1916 | 107 years, 10 months | |
| Seán Ó Ceallaigh | 17 April 1896 | 15 June 1994 | 98y 1m |
| Domhnall Ua Buachalla | 5 February 1866 | 30 October 1963 | 97y 8m |
| Philip Brady | 10 June 1898 | 6 January 1995 | 96y 7m |
| Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920 | 104 years, 6 months | |
| George Noble Plunkett | 3 December 1851 | 12 March 1948 | 96y 3m |
| Séamus Dolan | 10 December 1914 | 10 August 2010 | 95y 8m |
| Kathleen Clarke | 11 April 1878 | 29 September 1972 | 94y 6m |
| Joseph Dowling | 2 February 1922 | 102 years, 9 months | |
| Robert Barton | 4 March 1881 | 10 August 1975 | 94y 5m |
| Joseph Farrell | 1 July 1905 | 24 November 1999 | 94y 5m |
| Seán MacEntee | 22 August 1889 | 10 January 1984 | 94y 5m |
| Pádraig Faulkner | 12 March 1918 | 1 June 2012 | 94y 2m |
| Jack Harte | 10 December 1920 | 9 March 2015 | 94y 2m |
| Tony Herbert | 1920 | 6 March 2014 | 94y+ |
| Thomas Finlay | 17 September 1922 | 102 years, 1 month | |
| Richard Barry | 4 September 1919 | 28 April 2013 | 93y 7m |
| Patrick Finucane | 5 December 1890 | 10 April 1984 | 93y 4m |
| Thomas Tynan | 1859 | 24 September 1953 | 93y 3m+ |
| Peadar O'Donnell | 22 February 1893 | 13 May 1986 | 93y 3m |
| Denis Cullen | 23 September 1878 | 26 November 1971 | 93y 2m |
| Sam McAughtry | 24 March 1921 | 28 March 2014 | 93y |
| Kit Ahern | 13 January 1915 | 27 December 2007 | 92y 11m |
| Seán Treacy | 23 September 1923 | 101 years, 1 month | |
| Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882 | 29 August 1975 | 92y 10m |
| William Sheldon | 18 January 1907 | 1 November 1999 | 92y 9m |
| Charles Fagan | 1 October 1881 | 8 May 1974 | 92y 7m |
| Ted Russell | 1 April 1912 | 28 November 2004 | 92y 7m |
| Patrick Shanahan | 10 March 1908 | 1 February 2000 | 91y 11m |
| Donal Creed | 7 September 1924 | 100 years, 2 months | |
| Peter Sands | 1 May 1924 | 17 October 2015 | 91y 5m |
| Hugh Gibbons | 6 July 1916 | 13 November 2007 | 91y 4m |
| Patrick Byrne | 2 April 1925 | 99 years, 7 months | |
| Conor Cruise O'Brien | 3 November 1917 | 18 December 2008 | 91y 1m |
| Bryan Cusack | 2 August 1882 | 24 May 1973 | 90y 9m |
| Thomas Johnson | 17 May 1872 | 17 January 1963 | 90y 8m |
| Patrick McGilligan | 12 April 1889 | 15 November 1979 | 90y 7m |
| Hugh Conaghan | 6 May 1926 | 98 years, 6 months | |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | 29 July 1926 | 98 years, 3 months | |
| Tom O'Donnell | 30 August 1926 | 98 years, 2 months | |
| Patrick Lalor | 21 July 1926 | 29 July 2016 | 90y |
Shortest lived office-holders
Aged 40 or younger at time of death:
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kieran Doherty | 16 October 1955 | 2 August 1981 | 25y | Hunger strike |
| Liam Mellows | 25 May 1895 | 8 December 1922 | 27y 6m | Execution during the Irish Civil War |
| Michael Collins | 16 October 1890 | 22 August 1922 | 31y 10m | Shot during the Irish Civil War |
| Don Davern | 4 March 1935 | 2 November 1968 | 33y 7m | Sudden illness |
| Michael Derham | 1889 | 20 November 1923 | 34y 10m- | Sudden illness |
| Kevin O'Higgins | 7 June 1892 | 10 July 1927 | 35y 1m | Assassinated by former Civil War opponents |
| Billy Fox | 3 January 1939 | 12 March 1974 | 35y 2m | Assassinated during the Troubles |
| Harry Boland | 27 April 1887 | 31 July 1922 | 35y 3m | Shot during the Irish Civil War |
| Frank Carney | 25 April 1896 | 19 October 1932 | 36y 5m | Ill-health |
| Hugh Colohan | 30 September 1894 | 15 April 1931 | 36y 6m | |
| Pierce McCan | 2 August 1882 | 6 March 1919 | 36y 7m | Influenza epidemic |
| Séamus Ryan | 6 December 1895 | 30 June 1933 | 37y 6m | Sudden illness |
| Thomas A. Finlay | 11 October 1893 | 22 November 1932 | 39y 1m | Typhoid fever |
| Alfred P. Byrne | 1913 | 26 July 1952 | 39y 6m- | |
| Sir Osmond Esmonde | 4 April 1896 | 22 July 1936 | 40y 3m | Sudden illness |
| Clement Coughlan | 14 August 1942 | 1 February 1983 | 40y 5m | Traffic accident |
| Séamus Dwyer | c.1882 | 20 December 1922 | 40y 11m- | Assassinated during the Irish Civil War |
| Joseph Hannigan | 1904 | 1944 | 40y 11m- |
Longest-serving cabinet ministers (in same office)
| Name | Office | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Seán Lemass | Minister for Industry and Commerce | 19 years, 2 months |
| Éamon de Valera | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 11 months |
| Frank Aiken | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 3 months |
| James Ryan | Minister for Agriculture | 14 years, 10 months |
| Thomas Derrig | Minister for Education | 14 years, 1 month |
| Gerald Boland | Minister for Justice | 11 years, 4 months |
| Oscar Traynor | Minister for Defence | 11 years, 4 months |
| Seán MacEntee | Minister for Finance | 10 years, 5 months |
People appointed to cabinet at the start of their first term as TD
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Noël Browne | February 1948 |
| Kevin Boland | March 1957 |
| Martin O'Donoghue | July 1977 |
| Alan Dukes | June 1981 |
| Niamh Bhreathnach | January 1993 |
| Katherine Zappone | May 2016 |
Oldest person currently in office
Politicians born before 1945:
| Name | Office | Date of birth | Age as of 7 November 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael D. Higgins | President | 18 April 1941 | 83 years, 6 months |
| Michael Noonan | TD | 21 May 1943 | 81 years, 5 months |
| Paul Coghlan | Senator | 1 June 1944 | 80 years, 6 months |
| David Norris | Senator | 1 July 1944 | 80 years, 4 months |
| Seán Barrett | TD | 9 August 1944 | 80 years, 2 months |
Youngest person currently in office
 |
Politicians born since 1976:
| Name | Office | Date of birth | Age as of 7 November 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Chambers | TD | 1990 | 33 years, 10 months+ |
| Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | TD | 1989 | 34 years, 10 months+ |
| Noel Rock | TD | 11 November 1987 | 36 years, 11 months |
| Niall Ó Donnghaile | Senator | 1986 | 37 years, 10 months+ |
| Simon Harris | TD | 17 December 1986 | 37 years, 10 months |
| Lisa Chambers | TD | 24 August 1986 | 38 years, 2 months |
| Helen McEntee | TD | June 1986 | 38 years, 4 months+ |
| Lynn Ruane | Senator | 20 October 1984 | 40 years |
| Paul Murphy | TD | 13 April 1983 | 41 years, 6 months |
| Eoghan Murphy | TD | April 1982 | 42 years, 6 months+ |
| Brendan Griffin | TD | March 1982 | 42 years, 7 months+ |
| Robert Troy | TD | January 1982 | 42 years, 9 months+ |
| Kate O'Connell | TD | 3 January 1980 | 44 years, 10 months |
| Leo Varadkar | TD | 18 January 1979 | 45 years, 9 months |
| John Paul Phelan | TD | 27 September 1978 | 46 years, 1 month |
| Martin Heydon | TD | 9 August 1978 | 46 years, 2 months |
| Damien English | TD | 21 February 1978 | 46 years, 8 months |
| Hildegarde Naughton | TD | 1977 | 46 years, 10 months+ |
| Alan Farrell | TD | 29 December 1977 | 46 years, 10 months |
| Charlie McConalogue | TD | October 1977 | 47 years+ |
| Brian Ó Domhnaill | Senator | 18 October 1977 | 47 years |
| Pearse Doherty | TD | 6 July 1977 | 47 years, 4 months |
| Thomas Byrne | TD | 1 June 1977 | 47 years, 5 months |
| Patrick O'Donovan | TD | 21 March 1977 | 47 years, 7 months |
| Michael McGrath | TD | 23 August 1976 | 48 years, 2 months |
| Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Senator | 22 July 1976 | 48 years, 3 months |
| Catherine Noone | Senator | 24 June 1976 | 48 years, 4 months |
Members of the current Government by age
| Name | Date of birth | Age as of 7 November 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Noonan | 21 May 1943 | 81 years, 5 months |
| Shane Ross | 11 July 1949 | 75 years, 3 months |
| Frances Fitzgerald | 1 August 1950 | 74 years, 3 months |
| Enda Kenny | 24 April 1951 | 73 years, 6 months |
| Richard Bruton | 15 March 1953 | 71 years, 7 months |
| Katherine Zappone | 25 November 1953 | 70 years, 11 months |
| Charles Flanagan | 1 November 1956 | 68 years |
| Mary Mitchell O'Connor | 10 June 1959 | 65 years, 4 months |
| Michael Creed | 29 June 1963 | 61 years, 4 months |
| Simon Coveney | 16 June 1972 | 52 years, 4 months |
| Denis Naughten | 23 June 1973 | 51 years, 4 months |
| Paschal Donohoe | 19 September 1974 | 50 years, 1 month |
| Leo Varadkar | 18 January 1979 | 45 years, 9 months |
| Simon Harris | 17 October 1986 | 38 years |
| Heather Humphreys | N/A | N/A |
Longest service (cumulative)
| Name | Office(s) | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Éamon de Valera | TD / President | 55 |
| Paddy Smith | TD | 54 |
| Frank Aiken | TD | 50 |
| James Ryan | TD / Senator | 50 |
| Neil Blaney | TD / MEP | 47 |
| Gerald Boland | TD / Senator | 46 |
Married couple in the same Oireachtas
Members of both the British Parliament and of the Oireachtas
This list excludes abstentionist MPs, such as the members of the 1st Dáil.
| Name | British Parliament | Oireachtas |
|---|---|---|
| Dermot Bourke, 7th Earl of Mayo | Peer 1890–1927 | Senator 1922–27 |
| P. J. Brady | MP 1910–18 | Senator 1927–28 |
| Alfie Byrne | MP 1915–18 | TD 1922–28, 1932–56, Senator 1928–31 |
| James Campbell, later Lord Glenavy | MP 1898–1900, 1903–17, Peer 1921–31 | Senator 1922–28 |
| Bryan Cooper | MP 1910 | TD 1923–30 |
| James Cosgrave | MP 1914–18 | TD 1923–27 |
| William Duffy | MP 1900–18 | TD 1927 |
| Sir John Esmonde | MP 1915–18 | TD 1937–44 |
| Sir Thomas Esmonde | MP 1885–1918 | Senator 1922–34 |
| Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard | Peer 1889–1948 | Senator 1922–34 |
| Laurence Ginnell | MP 1906–18 | TD 1918–23 |
| Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh | Peer 1967–92 | Senator 1973–77 |
| Edward Haughey, later Lord Ballyedmond | Peer 2004–14 | Senator 1994–2002 |
| Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow | Peer 1905–46 | Senator 1922–28 |
| Hugh Law | MP 1902–18 | TD 1927–32 |
| Seamus Mallon | MP 1986–2005 | Senator 1982 |
| James O'Mara | MP 1900–07 | TD 1918–21, 1924–27 |
| Stephen O'Mara | MP 1886 | Senator 1925–26 |
| Earl of Kerry, later Marquess of Lansdowne | MP 1908–18, Peer 1927–36 | Senator 1922–29 |
| Horace Plunkett | MP 1892–1900 | Senator 1922–25 |
| William Redmond | MP 1910–22 | TD 1923–32 |
| Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort | Peer 1894–1943 | Senator 1922–28 |
| Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl | Peer 1871–1926 | Senator 1922–26 |
First-time records
Women
- First female TD – Constance Markievicz, elected to the First Dáil in 1918
- First female minister – Constance Markievicz who served as Minister for Labour in the First Dáil from 1919–22
- First female Senators – Eileen Costello, Ellen Cuffe, Alice Stopford Green and Jennie Wyse Power, elected or nominated in 1922
- First female Minister of State – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn became Minister of State for Industry and Energy in 1977
- First female cabinet minister since independence – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn became Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1979
- First female President of Ireland – Mary Robinson, who was elected in 1990 and served until 1997
- First female Tánaiste – Mary Harney, appointed in 1997
Religion
- First Jewish Senator – Ellen Cuffe, appointed to the Irish Free State Seanad Éireann as an independent member (1922–31)
- First Jewish TD – Robert Briscoe, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South (1932–48) and Dublin South-West (1948–61)
- First openly atheist TD – Jim Kemmy, Labour Party/Democratic Socialist Party TD for Limerick East 1981–82 and 1987–97
- First Muslim TD – Moosajee Bhamjee, Labour Party TD for Clare from 1992–97
- First Quaker Senator – James G. Douglas, independent Senator from 1922–36 and 1938–57
LGBT people
- First male Senator to publicly identify as gay – David Norris, independent Senator for University of Dublin since 1987.
- First TDs to publicly identify as gay – John Lyons (Labour Party TD) and Dominic Hannigan (Labour Party TD), both elected in 2011.
- First Senator to publicly identify as lesbian – Katherine Zappone, independent Senator from 2011–16.
- First member of the Oireachtas to be in a recognised same-sex relationship – Katherine Zappone, who married Ann Louise Gilligan in British Columbia, Canada in 2003.
- First serving member of the Oireachtas to come out – Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael TD), first elected in 2007, came out in 2012.
- First serving Cabinet Minister to come out – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), first elected in 2007, became a Minister in 2011, came out in 2015. Pat Carey (Fianna Fáil) was elected in 1997, and served as a minister from 2010–11 but did not come out until 2015, after his retirement.
- First TD to publicly identify as lesbian – Katherine Zappone, independent TD since February 2016.
- First serving Cabinet Minister to publicly identify as lesbian — Katherine Zappone, independent Minister since May 2016.
Party leaders
Party leaders serving 10 years or more are:
See also
- Families in the Oireachtas
- List of Irish politicians
- List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned since 1923
- List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned during the Irish revolutionary period
- List of women in Dáil Éireann
- List of women in Seanad Éireann
- Records of Irish heads of government since 1922
References
- ^ The two Houses of the Oireachtas are: Dáil Éireann (lower) and Seanad Éireann (upper).
- ^ "Dáil Éireann – Volume 1 – 21 January 1919, An Rolla". Dáil Éireann Parliamentary Debates (in Irish). Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ While Mulcahy was a member of the Seanad in 1944, Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader.
- ^ Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary leader.