Families in the Oireachtas
There is a tradition in Irish politics of having family members succeed each other, frequently in the same parliamentary seat. This article lists families where two or more members of that family have been members (TD or Senator) of either of the houses of the Oireachtas (Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann) or of the European Parliament. It also includes members of the Oireachtas who had a relation who served in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922) for an Irish constituency. It does not include people who have served only on local councils.
For the purposes of this list, a "family" has been defined as a group of people where each person has one of the following relationships to at least one of the other people listed:
- son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter
- father, mother, grandfather or grandmother
- nephew, niece, grandnephew or grandniece
- uncle, aunt, great uncle or great aunt
- sibling or first cousin
- spouse (husband or wife)
- connected by marriage ("-in-law" relationships)
The list has been indexed against the name of the first family member to enter the Oireachtas.
A
B
- Anthony Barry (1901–1983): FG TD/Senator Cork Borough 1954–1965
- Richard Barry (1919–2013): FG TD Cork East/Cork North–East 1953–1981
- his daughter Myra Barry (born 1957): FG TD Cork North–East/Cork East 1979–1987
- John Beirne, Snr (1893–19??): CnaT TD Roscommon 1943–1948
- Patrick Belton (1885–1945): FF TD Dublin County 1927, CnaG/FG TD Dublin North 1933–1937, FG TD Dublin County 1938–1943
- Thomas Westropp Bennett (1867–1962): CnaG/FG Senator 1922–1936
- Sir Edward Coey Bigger (1861–1942): Ind Senator 1925–1936
- Neal Blaney (1893–1948): FF TD Donegal 1927–1937, Donegal East 1937–1938 and 1943–1948, FF Senator 1938–1943
- Harry Boland (1887–1922): SF TD South Roscommon 1918–1922
- his brother Gerald Boland (1885–1973): FF TD/Senator Roscommon 1926–1961
- Gerald's son Kevin Boland (1917–2001): FF TD Dublin County 1957–1970
- Philip Brady (1898–1995): FF TD Dublin South–Central 1951–1977
- Thomas Brennan (died 1953): FF TD Wicklow 1944–1954
- his son Paudge Brennan (1922–1998): FF TD Wicklow 1954–1973, 1981–1982, 1982–1987, Senator 1982[1]
- Martin Brennan (1903–1956): FF TD Sligo 1938–1948
- Robert Briscoe (1894–1969): FF TD Dublin South/Dublin South–West 1927–1965
- his son Ben Briscoe (born 1934): FF TD Dublin 1965–2002
- John Browne (born 1936): FG Senator 1983–1987, TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1989–2002
- Seán Browne (1916–1996): FF TD Wexford 1957–1961, 1969–1981, 1982
- his nephew John Browne (born 1948): FF TD Wexford 1982–2016
- Cathal Brugha (1874–1922): SF TD County Waterford 1918–1922
- John Bruton (born 1947): FG TD Meath 1969–2004
- his brother Richard Bruton (born 1953): FG Senator 1981–1982, TD Dublin North–Central 1982–
- Patrick Burke (1904–1985): FF TD Dublin County/Dublin County North 1944–1973
- James Burke (died 1964): FG TD Roscommon 1951–1964
- his wife Joan Burke (born 1928): FG TD Roscommon 1964–1981
- John Butler (1891–1968): Lab TD Waterford–Tipperary East 1922–1923, Waterford 1923–1927, Senator 1938–1965
- Alfie Byrne (1882–1956): IPP MP Dublin Harbour 1915–1918, Ind TD Dublin Mid/Dublin North 1922–1928, Ind Senator 1928–1931, Ind TD Dublin North/Dublin North–East 1932–1956
- his son Alfred P. Byrne (1913–1952): Ind TD Dublin North–West 1937–1944, 1948–1952
- his son Thomas Byrne (1917–1978): Ind TD Dublin North–West 1952–1961
- his son Patrick Byrne (born 1925): Ind TD Dublin North–East 1956–1957, FG TD Dublin North–East 1957–1969
C
- Johnny Callanan (1910–1982): FF TD Clare–Galway South/Galway/Galway East 1973–1982
- his nephew Joe Callanan (born 1949): FF TD Galway East 2002–2007
- Phelim Calleary (1895–1974): FF TD Mayo North 1952–1969
- Donal Carey (born 1937): FG TD Clare 1982–2002
- (Robert) Erskine Childers (1870–1922): SF TD Kildare–Wicklow 1921–1922
- Paddy Clohessy (1908–1971): FF TD Limerick East 1957–1969
- John James Cole (died 1959): Ind TD Cavan 1923–27, 1927–32, 1937–44
- James Coburn (1889–1953): NLP/Ind/FG TD Louth 1927–1953
- Harry Colley (1891–1972): FF TD Dublin North–East 1944–1957
- James Collins (1900–1967): FF TD Limerick 1948–1967
- Michael Collins (1890–1922): SF TD Cork South 1918–1921, Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West 1921–1922
- John Conlan (1928–2004): FG Senator 1965–1969, TD Monaghan/Cavan–Monaghan 1969–1987
- Johnny Connor (died 1955): CnaP TD Kerry North 1954–1955
- Roddy Connolly (1901–1980): Lab TD Louth 1943–1944, 1948–1951, Senator 1975–1977 (Son of James Connolly)
- Fintan Coogan, Snr (1910–1984): FG TD Galway West 1954–1977
- Richard Corish (1889–1945): Lab TD Wexford 1921–1945
- W. T. Cosgrave (1880–1965): CnaG/FG TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1919–1927, Cork Borough 1927–1944
- his brother Philip Cosgrave (died 1923): CnaG TD Dublin North–West 1921–1923: Dublin South 1923
- his son Liam Cosgrave (born 1920): FG TD Dublin County 1943–1948, Dún Laoghaire 1948–1981
- Liam's son Liam T. Cosgrave (born 1956): FG TD Dún Laoghaire 1981–1987, FG Senator 1989–2002
- John A. Costello (1881–1976): FG TD Dublin Townships 1933–1943, 1944–1969
- his son Declan Costello (1926–2011): FG TD Dublin North–West 1951–1969, Dublin South–West 1973–1977
- his son-in-law Alexis FitzGerald, Snr (1916–1985): FG Senator 1969–1981
- Alexis Snr's nephew Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (1945–2015): FG Senator 1981–1982, 1982–1987, FG TD Dublin South–East 1982
- Alexis Jnr's wife Mary Flaherty (born 1953): FG TD Dublin North–West 1981–1997
- Clement Coughlan (1942–1983): FF TD Donegal South–West 1980–1983
- his brother Cathal Coughlan (1937–1986): FF TD Donegal South–West 1983–1986
- Cathal's daughter Mary Coughlan (born 1965): FF TD Donegal South–West 1987–2011
- Hugh Coveney (1935–1998): FG TD Cork South–Central 1981–1998
- Bernard Cowen (1932–1984): FF TD Laois–Offaly 1969–1984
- Donal Creed (born 1924): FG TD Cork North–West 1965–1989, MEP 1973–1977
- his son Michael Creed (born 1963): FG TD Cork North–West 1989–2002, 2007–
- Patrick Crotty (1902–1970): FG TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1948–1969
- his son Kieran Crotty (born 1930): FG TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1969–1989
- Frederick Crowley (died 1945): FF TD Kerry South 1927–1945
- Flor Crowley (1934–1997): FF TD Cork Mid/Cork South–West 1965–1982, Senator
D
- Michael D'Arcy (born 1934): FG TD Wexford 1977–1987, 1989–1992, 1997–2002
- Michael Davern (1900–1973): FF TD Tipperary South 1948–1965
- his son Don Davern (1935–1968): FF TD Tipperary South 1965–1968
- his son Noel Davern (1945–2013): FF TD Tipperary South 1969–1981, 1987–2007, MEP Munster 1979–1984
- Michael Davitt (1846–1906): MP County Meath 1882, Anti-Parnellite MP North Meath 1892, Anti-Parnellite MP North East Cork Feb–May 1893, Anti-Parnellite MP South Mayo 1895–1899
- Dan Desmond (1913–1964): Lab TD Cork South–East, 1948–1964
- his wife Eileen Desmond (1932–2005): Lab TD Cork South–Central 1965–1987, MEP Munster 1979–1981
- Éamon de Valera (1882–1975): FF TD Clare 1919–1959, President 1959–1973, (also FF MP Parliament of Northern Ireland 1921–1937)
- Austin Deasy (born 1936): FG TD Waterford 1977–2002
- his son John Deasy (born 1967): FG TD Waterford 2002–
- James Devins (1873–1922): SF TD Sligo–Mayo East 1921–1922
- John Dillon (1851–1927): IPP MP East Mayo 1880–1918
- John Dinneen (1867–1942): FP TD Cork East 1922–1927
- his nephew Liam Ahern (1916–1974): FF Senator 1957–1973, FF TD Cork North–East 1973–1974
- Sir Maurice Dockrell (1850–1929): IUA MP Dublin Rathmines 1918–1922
- Michael Donnellan (1900–1964): CnaT TD Galway 1938–1964
- James G. Douglas (1887–1954): Ind Senator 1922–1943, 1944–1954
E
- Tom Enright (born 1940): FG TD Laois–Offaly 1969–1992, 1997–2002, FG Senator 1993–1997
- his daughter Olwyn Enright (born 1974): FG TD Laois–Offaly 2002–2011
- her husband Joe McHugh (born 1971): FG Senator 2002–2007, FG TD Donegal North–East 2007–
- Sir Thomas Esmonde (1862–1935): IPP MP 1885–1918, Ind Senator 1922–1934
- James Everett (1894–1967): Lab TD Wicklow 1923–1967
- his nephew Liam Kavanagh (born 1935): Lab TD Wicklow 1969–1997, MEP Leinster 1973–1981
F
G
H
- Sean Hales (died 1922): SF TD Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West 1921–1922
- Des Hanafin (born 1930): FF Senator 1965–1993, 1997–2002
- his daughter Mary Hanafin (born 1959): FF TD Dún Laoghaire 1997–2011
- his son John Hanafin (born 1960): FF Senator 2002–2011
- Haughey, see Lemass
- Healy, see Sullivan
- Jackie Healy-Rae (born 1931): Ind TD Kerry South 1997–2011
- Sir William Bernard Hickie (1865–1950): Senator 1925–1936
- Michael Hilliard (1903–1982): FF TD Meath–Westmeath 1943–1948, Meath 1948–1973, MEP 1973
- Hogan, see Sullivan
- T. V. Honan (1878–1954): FF Senator 1934–1936, 1938–1954
- his son Dermot Honan (died 1986): FF Senator 1965–1973
- Dermot's wife Tras Honan (born 1930): FF Senator 1977–1992
- Tras's sister Carrie Acheson (born 1934): FF TD Tipperary South 1981–Feb. 1982
- John Horgan (1876–1955): NLP TD Cork Borough 1927
- his grandson Seán O'Leary (1941–2006): FG Senator 1981–1982, 1983–1987
- Ralph Howard (1877–1946): Ind Senator 1922–1928
K
- William Kenneally (1899–1964): FF TD Waterford 1952–1961
- his son Billy Kenneally (1925–2009): FF TD Waterford 1965–1982, Senator 1982–1983
- his grandson Brendan Kenneally (born 1955): FF TD Waterford 1989–2002, 2007–2011, Senator 2002–2007
- Paddy Keaveney (1929–1995): IFF TD Donegal North–East 1976–1977
- his daughter Cecilia Keaveney (born 1968): FF TD Donegal North–East 1996–2007, FF Senator 2007–2011
- Henry Kenny (1913–1975): FG TD Mayo South 1954–1969, Mayo West 1969–1975
- his son Enda Kenny (born 1951): FG TD Mayo West 1975–1997, Mayo 1997–
- David Kent (died 1930): SF TD Cork East/Cork East and North East 1918–1927
- his brother William Kent: FF TD Cork East 1927–1932, NCP/FG TD Cork East 1933–1937
- Mark Killilea, Snr (1896–1970): FF TD Galway/Galway East/Galway North 1927–1932, 1933–1961, FF Senator 1961–1969
- his son Mark Killilea, Jnr (born 1939): FF TD 1977–1982, FF Senator 1969–1977, 1982–1987, MEP 1987–1999
- Michael F. Kitt (1914–1974): FF TD 1948–1951, 1957–1975
L
- James Larkin (1874–1947): IWL TD Dublin North 1927, Ind TD Dublin North–East 1937–1938, Lab TD Dublin North–East 1943–1944
- James Snr's son James Larkin, Jnr (1904–1969): Lab TD Dublin South 1943–1948, Dublin South–Central 1948–1954
- James Snr's son Denis Larkin (1908–1987): Lab TD Dublin North–East 1954–1961, 1965–1969
- Hugh Law (1818–1883): Liberal MP Londonderry 1874–1881
- Patsy Lawlor (1933–1998): FG Senator 1981–1983
- Seán Lemass (1899–1971): FF TD Dublin 1924–1969
- his son Noel Lemass, Jnr (1929–1976): FF TD Dublin South–West 1956–1976
- Noel's wife Eileen Lemass (born 1932): FF TD Dublin South–West 1977–1987, MEP Dublin 1984–1989
- Seán's son-in-law Charles Haughey (1925–2006): FF TD Dublin North–East/Dublin Artane/Dublin North–Central 1957–1992
- Charles' son Seán Haughey (born 1961): FF Senator 1987–1992, FF TD Dublin North–Central 1992–2011
- Seán's grandson Seán O'Connor (born 1960): FF Senator 1982
- Brian Lenihan, Snr (1930–1995): FF Senator 1957–1961, 1973–1977, FF TD Roscommon 1961–1969, Roscommon–Leitrim 1969–1973, Dublin West 1977–1997, MEP 1973–1977
- Brian Snr's father Patrick Lenihan (1902–1970): FF TD Longford–Westmeath 1965–1970
- Brian Snr's sister Mary O'Rourke (born 1937): FF Senator 1981–1982, 2002–2007, FF TD Longford–Westmeath 1982–1997, 2007–2011, Westmeath 1997–2002
- Brian Snr's son Brian Lenihan, Jnr (1959–2011): FF Dublin West 1996–2011
- Brian Snr's son Conor Lenihan (born 1963): FF TD Dublin South–West 1997–2011
- Jimmy Leonard (born 1927): FF TD Cavan–Monaghan 1973–1981, Feb 1982–1997, Senator 1981–1982
- his daughter Ann Leonard (born 1969): FF Senator 1997–2002
- Patrick Little (1884–1963): FF TD Waterford 1927–1954
- his grandnephew Ciarán Cuffe (born 1963): GP TD Dún Laoghaire 2002–2011
- James B. Lynch (died 1954): FF TD Dublin South 1932–1948 Senator 1951–1954
- his wife Celia Lynch (1908–1989): FF TD Dublin South–Central, Dublin North–Central 1954–1977
- Kathleen Lynch (born 1953): DL/Lab TD Cork North–Central 1994–1997, 2002–
- her brother-in-law Ciarán Lynch (born 1964): Lab TD Cork South–Central 2007–
M
- Mary McAleese (born 1951): President of Ireland 1997–2011
- Timothy McAuliffe (1909–1985): Lab Senator 1961–1969, 1973–1983
- Joseph MacBride (died 1938): SF TD Mayo West 1919–1921, Mayo North and West 1921–1923, CnaG TD Mayo South 1923–1927
- his nephew Seán MacBride (1904–1988): CnaP TD Dublin County 1947–1948, Dublin South–West 1948–1957
- Shane McEntee (1956–2012): FG TD Meath 2005–2007, Meath East 2007–2012
- Tom McEllistrim (1894–1973): FF TD Kerry/Kerry North 1923–1969
- his son Tom McEllistrim (1926–2000): FF TD Kerry North 1969–1987, Senator 1987–1989, 1989–1992
- Nicky McFadden (1962–2014): FG Senator 2007–2011, TD Longford-Westmeath 2011–2014
- Patrick McGilligan: INF MP South Fermanagh 1892–1895
- Joseph McLoughlin (1916–1991): FG TD Sligo–Leitrim 1969–1977
- Eoin MacNeill (1867–1945): SF/CnaG TD National University of Ireland 1919–1927
- his son-in-law Michael Tierney (1894–1975): CnaG TD Mayo North 1925–1927, NUI 1927–1932, Senator 1938–1944
- his grandson Michael McDowell (born 1951): PD TD Dublin South–East 1987–1989, 1992–1997, 2002–2007
- Ray MacSharry (born 1938): FF TD Sligo–Leitrim 1969–1988, MEP Connacht–Ulster 1984–1989
- MacSwiney see Brugha
- Seán Maloney (born 1945): Lab Senator 1993–1997
- his brother Eamonn Maloney (born 1953): Lab/Ind TD Dublin South–West 2011–
- Tadhg Manley (1893–1976): FG TD Cork South 1954–1961
- his nephew Liam Burke (1928–2005): FG TD Cork City 1969–1977, 1979–1981, TD Cork North–Central 1981–1989, 1992–2002
- John Mannion, Snr (1907–1978): FG TD Galway West 1951–1954, Senator 1954–1957, 1961–1969
- his son John Mannion, Jnr (1944–2006): FG TD Galway West 1977–1981, Senator 1969–1977, 1981–1983
- Con Meaney (died 1970): FF TD Cork North 1937–1943, Cork Mid 1961–1965
- his son Thomas Meaney (born 1931): FF TD Cork Mid/Cork North–West 1961–1982
- Liam Mellows (1895–1922): SF TD Galway East, Meath North 1918–1922, Galway 1921–1922
- Matthew Minch (1857–1921): INF/IPP MP South Kildare 1892–1903
- Jim Mitchell (1946–2002): FG TD Dublin Ballyfermot/Dublin West/Dublin Central 1977–2002
- his brother Gay Mitchell (born 1951): FG TD Dublin South–Central 1981–2007, MEP Dublin 2004–2014
- Joe Mooney (died 1988): FF Senator 1961–1965
- Michael Moynihan (1917–2001): Lab TD Kerry South 1981–1992
- Eugene Mullen (c. 1898–?): FF TD Mayo South June–Sept 1927
- his brother Thomas Mullen (c. 1897–1966): FF TD Dublin County 1938–1943
- Rónán Mullen (born 1970): Ind Senator 2007–
- Michael Pat Murphy (1919–2000): Lab TD Cork South–West 1951–1981
N
- Liam Naughten (1944–1996): FG Senator 1981–1982, 1989–1996, FG TD Roscommon 1982–1989
- his son Denis Naughten (born 1973): FG Senator 1997, FG TD Longford–Roscommon 1997–2007, Roscommon–South Leitrim 2007–
- Tom Nolan: (1921–1992): FF TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1965–1982, MEP 1973–1979
- his son M. J. Nolan (born 1951): FF TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1982–2011
- William Norton: (1900–1963): Lab TD Dublin County 1923–1927, Kildare/Carlow–Kildare/Kildare 1932–1963
- his son Patrick Norton (born 1928): Lab TD Kildare 1965–1969, Senator 1969–1973
O
P
Q
- Ruairi Quinn (born 1946): Lab TD/Senator Dublin South–East 1977–1981, 1982–2016
R
- John Edward Redmond (1806–1865): Lib MP City of Wexford 1859–1865
- his nephew William Archer Redmond (1825–1880): IPP MP Wexford 1872–1880
- William's son Willie Redmond (1861–1917): IPP MP Wexford Borough 1883–1885, Fermanagh North 1885–1892, Clare East 1892–1917
- William's son John Redmond (1856–1918): IPP MP New Ross 1881–1885, North Wexford 1885–1891, Waterford City 1891–1918
- John's son William Redmond (1886–1932): IPP/NLP/CnaG TD Waterford 1918–1932
- Patrick Reynolds (1887–1932): CnaG TD Leitrim–Sligo 1927–1932
- his wife Mary Reynolds (1889–1974): FG TD Leitrim–Sligo 1932–1961
- Their son Patrick J. Reynolds (1920–2003): FG TD Roscommon 1961–1969, Roscommon–Leitrim 1973–1977, Senator 1969–1973, 1977–1987
- Patrick J.'s son Gerry Reynolds (born 1961): FG TD Sligo–Leitrim 1989–1992 and 1997–2002, Senator 1987–1989 and 1993–1997
- Eamon Rice (1873–1937): FF TD Monaghan 1932–1937
- John N. Ross (1920–2011): Ind Senator 1961–1965
- his son Shane Ross (born 1949): Ind Senator 1981–2011, Ind TD Dublin South 2011–
- James Ryan (1891–1970): SF TD 1918–1922, Republican TD 1923–1926, FF TD 1926–1965
- his son Eoin Ryan, Snr (1920–2001): FF Senator 1957–1987
- his grandson Eoin Ryan, Jnr (born 1953): FF Senator, TD Dublin South–East 1992–2007, MEP Dublin 2004–2009
- his brother-in-law Seán T. O'Kelly (1882–1966): SF/Republican TD 1918–1932, President 1945–1959
- his brother-in-law Richard Mulcahy (1886–1971): SF/CnaG/FG TD and Senator 1918–1961
- Patrick Ryan (1898–1944): Republican TD Tipperary 1923–1927
- his brother Martin Ryan (1900–1943): FF TD Tipperary 1933–1943
- Martin's wife Mary Ryan (1898–1981): FF TD Tipperary 1944–1961
- Seán Ryan (born 1943): Lab TD Dublin North 1989–1997, 1998–2007
- his brother Brendan Ryan: Lab Senator 2007–2011, TD Dublin North 2011–
S
- David Sheehy (1844–1932): IPP MP South Galway 1885–1900, South Meath 1903–1918
- his son-in-law Tom Kettle (1880–1916): IPP MP East Tyrone 1906–1910
- his grandson Owen Sheehy-Skeffington (1901–1970): Ind Senator 1954–1957, 1965–1970
- his grandson Conor Cruise O'Brien (1917–2008): Lab TD Dublin North–East 1969–1977, Senator 1977–1979, MEP 1973
- O'Brien's father-in-law Seán MacEntee (1889–1984): SF TD Monaghan 1919–1922, FF TD Dublin County/Townships/South East 1927–1969
- Joe Sherlock (1930–2007): SFWP TD Cork East 1981–1982, WP TD 1987–1992, Lab TD 2002–2007, Seanad 1993–1997
- Dan Spring (1910–1988): Lab TD Kerry North 1943–1981
- his son Dick Spring (born 1950): Lab TD Kerry North 1981–2002
- Timothy Sullivan (1827–1914): Home Rule/IPP MP Westmeath 1880–1885, Dublin College Green 1885–1892, West Donegal 1892–1900
- John Sweetman (1844–1936): IPP MP East Wicklow 1892–1895
T
U
- Pat Upton (1944–1999): Lab Senator 1989–1992, Lab TD Dublin South–Central 1992–1999
- his sister Mary Upton (born 1946): Lab TD Dublin South–Central 1999–2011
W
- John Wilson (1923–2007): FF TD Cavan 1973–1977, Cavan–Monaghan 1977–1992
Y
See also
Notes and references
- ↑ For evidence of family connection, see speech by Paudge Brennan in the Dáil Éireann debates, Volume 246, 8 May 1970, on the Nomination of Members of Government
- ↑ "Devins salutes Liam Mellowes as a 'great champion of Irish freedom'". The Irish Times. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ↑ "Ms. Áine Brady". Oireachtas Members database. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
- ↑ Patrick and Tim O'Malley are first cousins once removed of Donogh O'Malley listed above them, and thus second cousins of Desmond; see The Round House O'Malleys: The Power of One Woman by Grace Cantillon, a second cousin of Patrick, Tim and Desmond (Lettertec, 2014).
- ↑ McNamara, Maedhbh; Mooney, Paschal (2000). Women in Parliament, Ireland 1918–2000. Dublin: Wolfhound Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-86327-759-4.
Sources