Paddy Donegan

Irish politician (1923–2000)

Paddy Donegan
Minister for Fisheries
(Minister for Lands
from 9 February 1977)
In office
2 December 1976 – 5 July 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byTom Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byBrian Lenihan
Minister for Defence
In office
14 March 1973 – 2 December 1976
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byJerry Cronin
Succeeded byLiam Cosgrave
Teachta Dála
In office
October 1961 – June 1981
In office
May 1954 – March 1957
ConstituencyLouth
Senator
In office
22 May 1957 – 4 October 1961
ConstituencyAgricultural Panel
Personal details
Born(1923-10-29)29 October 1923
Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland
Died26 November 2000(2000-11-26) (aged 77)
County Louth, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Olivia Macken
(m. 1949)
Children4
EducationCastleknock College

Patrick Sarsfield Donegan (29 October 1923 – 26 November 2000) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Fisheries from February 1977 to July 1977, Minister for Lands from 1976 to 1977 and Minister for Defence from 1973 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1954 to 1957 and 1961 to 1981. He also served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 1957 to 1961.[1]

He was born on 29 October 1923 at Monasterboice, County Louth, son of Thomas Francis Donegan, a publican and farmer, and Rose Ann Donegan (née Butterly).[2] He was educated at a Christian Brothers School in Drogheda, County Louth and at the Vincentian Castleknock College, Dublin.

Donegan was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Louth constituency at the 1954 general election.[3] He lost his seat at the 1957 general election, but was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel. He regained his Dáil seat at the 1961 general election. In the Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government which took power after the 1973 general election Donegan was appointed as Minister for Defence.

In October 1976, Donegan made a speech on an official visit to the opening of new kitchen facilities in an army barracks at Mullingar, County Westmeath in which he described as a "thundering disgrace" President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's refusal to sign the Emergency Powers Bill 1976. Ó Dálaigh had instead exercised his powers under Article 26 of the Constitution to refer it to the Supreme Court.[4] The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refused Donegan's resignation, and instead Ó Dálaigh resigned as President of Ireland. The whole episode badly damaged the government's reputation.

In December 1976, Donegan was appointed as Minister for Lands.[5] In February 1977, this office was restructured as the Minister for Fisheries.[6] He served in cabinet until the government lost office after the 1977 general election. Donegan retired from politics at the 1981 general election, and died in 2000. He was buried in his home town of Monasterboice, County Louth.

References

  1. ^ "Patrick S. Donegan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ^ White, Lawrence William. "Donegan, Patrick Sarsfield". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Patrick S. Donegan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Politicians pay tribute to Paddy Donegan". RTÉ News. 26 November 2000. Archived from the original on 25 July 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  5. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil) – Vol. 294 No. 9". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 December 1976. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Transfer of Departmental Functions: Statement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil) – Vol. 296 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 February 1977. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Defence
1973–1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Tom Fitzpatrick
Minister for Lands
(Minister for Lands from February 1977)

1976–1977
Succeeded by
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Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for the Louth constituency
This table is transcluded from Louth (Dáil constituency). (edit | history)
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
4th 1923 Frank Aiken
(Rep)
James Murphy
(CnaG)
Peter Hughes
(CnaG)
3 seats
until 1977
5th 1927 (Jun) Frank Aiken
(FF)
James Coburn
(NL)
6th 1927 (Sep)
7th 1932 James Coburn
(Ind)
8th 1933
9th 1937 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
James Coburn
(FG)
10th 1938
11th 1943 Roddy Connolly
(Lab)
12th 1944 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
13th 1948 Roddy Connolly
(Lab)
14th 1951 Laurence Walsh
(FF)
1954 by-election George Coburn
(FG)
15th 1954 Paddy Donegan
(FG)
16th 1957 Pádraig Faulkner[a]
(FF)
17th 1961 Paddy Donegan
(FG)
18th 1965
19th 1969
20th 1973 Joseph Farrell
(FF)
21st 1977 Eddie Filgate
(FF)
4 seats
1977–2011
22nd 1981 Paddy Agnew
(AHB)
Bernard Markey
(FG)
23rd 1982 (Feb) Thomas Bellew
(FF)
24th 1982 (Nov) Michael Bell
(Lab)
Séamus Kirk[b]
(FF)
Brendan McGahon
(FG)
25th 1987 Dermot Ahern
(FF)
26th 1989
27th 1992
28th 1997
29th 2002 Arthur Morgan
(SF)
Fergus O'Dowd
(FG)
30th 2007
31st 2011 Gerry Adams
(SF)
Ged Nash
(Lab)
Peter Fitzpatrick
(FG)
32nd 2016 Declan Breathnach
(FF)
Imelda Munster
(SF)
33rd 2020 Ruairí Ó Murchú
(SF)
Ged Nash
(Lab)
Peter Fitzpatrick
(Ind)
  1. ^ Faulker served as Ceann Comhairle in the 21st Dáil from 1977 to 1981, and was returned automatically at the 1981 election.
  2. ^ Kirk served as Ceann Comhairle in the 30th Dáil from 2009 to 2011, and was returned automatically at the 2011 election.
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« 8th Seanad «   Members of the 9th Seanad (1957–1961) » 10th Seanad »
Administrative Panel
Agricultural Panel
Cultural and Educational Panel
Industrial and Commercial Panel
Labour Panel
Dublin University
National University
Nominated by the Taoiseach
Elected or nominated later
  • v
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  • e
L. Cosgrave cabinet (1973–1977)