Seán Flanagan

Seán Flanagan (26 January 1922 – 5 February 1993) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and Gaelic footballer. He served as Minister for Health from 1966 to 1969, Minister for Lands from 1969 to 1973 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1965 to 1966. He served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Connacht–Ulster constituency from 1979 to 1989. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo South constituency from 1951 to 1969 and for the Mayo East constituency from 1969 to 1977.

Seán Flanagan
Flanagan in 1967
Minister for Lands
In office 2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Pádraig Faulkner
Succeeded by	Tom Fitzpatrick
Minister for Health
In office 13 July 1966 – 2 July 1969
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Donogh O'Malley
Succeeded by	Pádraig Faulkner
Parliamentary Secretary
1965–1966	Industry and Commerce
Member of the European Parliament
In office 1 July 1979 – 24 May 1989
Constituency	Connacht–Ulster
Teachta Dála
In office June 1969 – June 1977
Constituency	Mayo East
In office May 1951 – June 1969
Constituency	Mayo South
Personal details
Born	(1922-01-26)26 January 1922 Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland
Died	5 February 1993(1993-02-05) (aged 71) Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Mary Patricia Doherty ​ ​ (m. 1950)​
Children	7, including Dermot
Education	St Jarlath's College
Alma mater	University College Dublin

Early life

Flanagan was born in Coolnaha, Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo in 1922. He was educated locally, then later at St Jarlath's College in Tuam, County Galway, where he showed enthusiasm for sport. He won two Connacht championship medals with the college in 1939 and in 1940. He briefly studied at the seminary at Clonliffe College in Dublin, and then enrolled in University College Dublin, where he studied law and qualified as a solicitor.

Football career

Flanagan also played senior Gaelic football for Mayo. He captained the All-Ireland final-winning sides of 1950 and 1951, and won five Connacht senior championship medals in all. He also won two National Football League titles in 1949 and 1954. While still a footballer, Flanagan entered into a career in politics.

In recognition of his skills and long-running contribution to the sport, Flanagan was awarded the 1992 All-Time All Star Award as no GAA All Stars Awards were being issued at the time of his playing career. In 1984, the Gaelic Athletic Association centenary year he was honoured by being named on their Football Team of the Century. In 1999, he was again honoured by the GAA by being named on their Gaelic Football Team of the Millennium.

Political career

Flanagan came from a Fianna Fáil family and was recruited into the party in east Mayo. He was elected a Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo South at the 1951 general election, and won a seat—first there, then from 1969 in Mayo East—at each subsequent election until he lost his seat at the 1977 general election.

Flanagan rose rapidly through the party ranks and was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary under Taoiseach Seán Lemass in 1959. In the Fianna Fáil leadership election in 1966 Flanagan supported Jack Lynch. When Lynch became Taoiseach, Flanagan was promoted to the Cabinet as Minister for Health. Three years later in 1969, he became Minister for Lands. Flanagan lost his seat at the 1977 general election, and effectively retired from domestic politics; however, he was elected to the European Parliament in the first direct elections in 1979. He was re-elected in 1984, and retired from politics in 1989.

Flanagan died on 5 February 1993, at the age of 71.

See also

• List of people on the postage stamps of Ireland

External links

• Personal profile of Seán Flanagan in the European Parliament's database of members