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Séamus Kirk
Séamus Kirk (born 26 April 1945) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2009 to 2011 and a Minister of State from 1987 to 1992. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 1982 to 2016.[1] BackgroundKirk was born in Drumkeith, County Louth. He is married to Mary McGeough. They have three sons and one daughter and live in Knockbridge, County Louth. He was educated at CBS Dundalk. He was a farmer and agricultural adviser before entering politics. He is a former footballer who played for the Louth county team.[2] Political careerHe was a member of Louth County Council from 1974 to 1985, and he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a member of the 24th Dáil, succeeding Eddie Filgate who had announced his resignation from national politics. He was returned in each subsequent election until his retirement.[3] Kirk was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1987 to 1992.[4] and became Ireland's first Minister for Horticulture. During this time he helped establish Bord Glas in 1990 to attempt to expand the development of Ireland's fruit and vegetable sector. He served as Chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party from 2002 until October 2009 and was a long-serving member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body. At the 2004 European Parliament election, he unsuccessfully contested the East constituency where Liam Aylward took a seat for Fianna Fáil. On 13 October 2009, Kirk succeeded John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle[5] after O'Donoghue resigned over an expenses scandal. He was nominated for that post by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and seconded by Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, and he defeated Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley by 87 votes to 51 votes. McGinley had been nominated by his party's leader, Enda Kenny.[6] In doing so he became the second Louth based Fianna Fáil TD to hold the office since Pádraig Faulkner. In September 2014, he announced he would not be contesting the 2016 general election.[7] The party's seat was retained by Declan Breathnach on that occasion, also a resident of the Knockbridge townland. Kirk has been a life-long member of the GAA in Louth being a member of The Brides in his native Knockbridge and previously serving on the Louth GAA Committee that helped fund and develop the Darver Project for a training pitch for all teams in County Louth. He has been a life-long supporter of Knockbridge Tidy Towns and of the Dundalk & District Old IRA, a commemorative organisation who recognise the service of those who took part in the Easter Rising, The War of Independence and the Civil War. He also serves on Fianna Fail committees at this commemorative level. Sporting Achievements
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