Denis Gallagher

1987–1989GaeltachtMar.–Oct. 1982Social Welfare1980–1981Industry, Commerce and TourismMinister for the GaeltachtIn office
11 October 1982 – 14 December 1982TaoiseachCharles HaugheyPreceded byPádraig FlynnSucceeded byPaddy O'TooleIn office
5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979TaoiseachJack LynchPreceded byTom O'DonnellSucceeded byMáire Geoghegan-QuinnTeachta DálaIn office
February 1973 – June 1989ConstituencyMayo West Personal detailsBorn(1922-11-23)23 November 1922
County Mayo, IrelandDied3 November 2001(2001-11-03) (aged 78)
County Mayo, IrelandPolitical partyFianna FáilSpouse Children12EducationColáiste ÉindeAlma materSt Patrick's College, Dublin

Denis Gallagher (23 November 1922 – 3 November 2001) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.^[1] He served as Minister for the Gaeltacht on two occasions.

Early life

Denis Gallagher was born in Currane, by Clew Bay, facing Achill Island, County Mayo in 1922, the son of John Gallagher, a merchant, and his wife Catherine (née Gallagher). He grew up speaking English and Irish.^[2] He was educated locally and at Coláiste Éinde in Salthill. He qualified as a national school teacher having graduated from St Patrick's College in Drumcondra, Dublin. He taught in Drimnagh in Dublin for several years before returning to Mayo in 1946 to take up a teaching post. He married Hannah McHugh of Keel West, Achill in 1948, and they had twelve children.^[2]

Politics

Gallagher stood as a Clann na Poblachta candidate at the 1954 general election for Mayo North but was not elected. In the 1960s Gallagher changed allegiance and became a member of Fianna Fáil. He was elected to Mayo County Council in 1967 and was elected to Dáil Éireann on his third attempt at the 1973 general election for the Mayo West constituency.^[3] In 1974, he was appointed Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Fisheries. Fianna Fáil won the 1977 general election and Jack Lynch became Taoiseach. He appointed Gallagher as Minister for the Gaeltacht.^[4] He was an active minister with an interest in Irish language affairs. In the 1979 leadership contest Gallagher supported George Colley. However, Charles Haughey won the election, becoming Taoiseach, and Gallagher lost his position in cabinet. In March 1980, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism^[5] He served in this role until the Fianna Fáil lost office in June 1981. His main achievement as minister was the establishment in 1979 of a new gaeltacht authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta.^[2]

Fianna Fáil returned to government in March 1982. In October 1982, following the resignations of Martin O'Donoghue and Desmond O'Malley from the cabinet, Gallagher returned as Minister for the Gaeltacht.^[6] He remained in that post until December when Fianna Fáil went into opposition.

Following the 1987 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to government. Haughey appointed himself as Minister for the Gaeltacht as well as Taoiseach, with Gallagher as Minister of State at the Department of the Gaeltacht. Gallagher retired from politics at the 1989 general election. After his retirement, he worked to advance the Irish language cause and also served as chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Mayo.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Tom O'Donnell	Minister for the Gaeltacht 1977–1979	Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Preceded by Ray Burke Thomas Meaney	Minister of State at the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism 1980–1981 With: Thomas Meaney	Succeeded by Michael Begley
New office	Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare Mar.–Oct. 1982	Succeeded by Rory O'Hanlon
Preceded by Pádraig Flynn	Minister for the Gaeltacht Oct. 1982–Dec. 1982	Succeeded by Paddy O'Toole
Vacant Title last held by Michael D'Arcy	Minister of State at the Department of the Gaeltacht 1987–1989	Succeeded by Pat "the Cope" Gallagher