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Tom O'Donnell (politician)

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Tom O'Donnell
Minister for the Gaeltacht
In office
14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byGeorge Colley
Succeeded byDenis Gallagher
Member of the European Parliament
In office
June 1979 – June 1989
ConstituencyMunster
Teachta Dála
In office
October 1961 – February 1987
ConstituencyLimerick East
Personal details
Born(1926-08-30)30 August 1926
Charleville, County Cork, Ireland
Died8 October 2020(2020-10-08) (aged 94)
Ballysheedy West, County Limerick, Ireland[1]
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Helen O'Connor
​
(m. 1957)​
Children1
Relatives
Education
Alma materUniversity College Dublin

Thomas G. O'Donnell (30 August 1926 – 8 October 2020) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick East from 1961 to 1987. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster constituency from 1979 to 1989.[2]

Career

He was born in Charleville, County Cork, in 1926. He was educated at the Crescent College, Salesian College and University College Dublin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked as a teacher and a voluntary community activist before becoming involved in politics.

O'Donnell was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick East.[3] He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Transport, Power and Tourism from 1969 to 1973. He served in the government on one occasion in the National Coalition under Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave between 1973[1] and 1977 as Minister for the Gaeltacht.[4] He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Telecommunications from 1977 to 1979. O'Donnell was elected to the European Parliament at the 1979 election, and served until 1984.[1] He retired from national politics following the 1987 general election at which he lost his seat.[4] He was spokesperson on Regional Policy for the European People's Party (EPP) from 1979 to 1989.

After his retirement from politics he became actively involved in the voluntary sector. He was Chairperson of the Irish Peace Institute at the University of Limerick,[1] Chairperson of the PAUL Partnership, Chairperson to the Limerick City and County Strategy Group and the Limerick Employment Pact.

In 2005, he was honoured by Limerick City Council with a civic reception and a special presentation to mark half a century of his political and voluntary services to the people of Limerick City and County.[5]

He was married to Helen O'Connor from Sligo, former Honorary National Secretary of Fine Gael; they have one son. His uncle Richard O'Connell was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Limerick from 1924 to 1932, and his nephew Kieran O'Donnell is a Fine Gael TD for Limerick City.

O'Donnell died in October 2020 at the age of 94.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Former Fine Gael minister Tom O'Donnell dies aged 94". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Thomas O'Donnell". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Tom O'Donnell". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Veteran politician and minister, Tom O'Donnell, has died". Irish Independent. 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Tom O'Donnell visit – 1 February 2005". Limerick City Council. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for the Gaeltacht
1973–1977 		Succeeded by
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