Niall Blaney

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Niall Blaney (born January 29, 1974) is an Irish politician, belonging to first Independent Fianna Fáil and then to Fianna Fáil.

Niall Blaney was born in Donegal in 1974. He hails from a family with a strong political tradition. His grandfather, Neal Blaney, was an Old IRA member and a TD from 1927 to 1948. Niall Blaney's uncle, Neil T. Blaney was also a TD and a controversial cabinet minister who was sacked in the midst of the Arms Crisis of 1970. He continued to represent the Donegal North East Dáil constituency, initially as an Independent TD, but subsequently forming his own political organisation, known as Independent Fianna Fáil, which contested Dáil and local elections in Donegal.

Niall Blaney

Niall Blaney's father, Harry Blaney, succeeded his brother Neil T by becoming a TD in 1997. Niall Blaney himself first became involved in politics in 1999 when he was elected to Donegal County Council. Three years later, at the 2002 general election he succeeded in getting elected to Dáil Éireann in Donegal North East as an Independent Fianna Fáil TD.

Niall Blaney has been a consistent supporter of the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat coalition in the Dáil, and with the anticipated retirement of the senior Fianna Fáil TD in the constituency, Jim McDaid, there had been speculation for some time that Blaney would apply to join Fianna Fáil and stand as a candidate at the forthcoming general election. The merger between the two organisations was opposed by other members of the Blaney family, including sons of Neil T. Blaney. On July 26, 2006, Blaney announced that he had joined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

As a result, Fianna Fáil now hold all three seats in the Donegal North East constituency.