Joe Sherlock

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Joe Sherlock (born September 26, 1935) is an Irish Labour Party politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork East.

Joe Sherlock was born in Kildorrery, County Cork and was educated at the local national school. He worked at the local sugar factory for 18 years and became involved in politics in 1967 when he was elected to Mallow Urban District Council as a Sinn Féin representative. During the split in Sinn Féin in 1970, Sherlock remained with the "Official" wing of the movement. In 1974 he was elected to Cork County Council. He held both seats until the ending of the dual mandate in 2003. Sherlock was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Workers' Party TD. It was around this time tha Magill magazine stated that Sherlock had been a member of the Irish Republican Army in the 1950s around the time of its Border Campaign. Sherlock has never denied this allegation.

Sherlock was re-elected in the February 1982 general election, but lost his seat in the November 1982 election. Despite the loss of his seat he continued to be active in local politics. He was re-elected to the Dáil again in the 1987 and 1989 elections but lost his seat in the 1992 general election. Sherlock is also a former member of Democratic Left. He was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1993, serving in the upper house until 1997. He failed to be elected to the Dáil again in 1997 general election but eventually regained his seat after ten years in the 2002 election.

Sherlock currently holds a record, formerly held by Noel Browne, of representing the most political parties during his time in the Oireachtas. In July 2005, Sherlock announced that he will not be standing again in the next general election, which is expected in 2007. His son, Seán, is a member of both Cork County Council and Mallow Town Council, and has been selected to stand for Labour in place of his father.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by Newly created constituency	Sinn Féin the Workers Party Teachta Dála for Cork East 1981–1982	Succeeded by Ned O'Keeffe (Fianna Fáil)
Preceded by Myra Barry (Fine Gael)	Workers Party Teachta Dála for Cork East 1987–1992	Succeeded by John Mulvihill (Labour Party)
Preceded by Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)	Labour Party Teachta Dála for Cork East 2002–	Succeeded by Current Incumbent