Ciaran Brogan (born 1971 or 1972)
[ is an Irish businessman and ]Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...
politician from County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...
. He is a member of Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall) is the authority responsible for local government in County Donegal, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for hou ...
, representing the Letterkenny
Letterkenny ( ga, Leitir Ceanainn , meaning 'hillside of the O'Cannons'), nicknamed 'the Cathedral Town', is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, a county in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Letterkenny lies on the R ...
Electoral Area, and was a member of Letterkenny Town Council
Letterkenny ( ga, Leitir Ceanainn , meaning 'hillside of the O'Cannons'), nicknamed 'the Cathedral Town', is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, a Counties of Ireland, county in Ulster, the northern Provinces of Ireland, pro ...
. He topped the poll in elections in 2004 and 2009.
Brogan owns SARK Construction Ltd, based in Letterkenny. Several members of Donegal County Council, including Barry O'Neill, have queried how €4.812 million was spent on SARK's council-backed housing development in Dungloe
''An Clochán Liath'', known in English as Dungloe or Dunglow ( ), is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in The Rosses and the largest in the Donegal ''Gaeltacht''. Dungloe developed as a town in the middle of the 18th century ...
. The company is known to have received contracts worth more than €10 million. SARK Construction is also a recognised tax defaulter. However, Brogan has vowed to "carefully monitor" any comments made in the council chamber concerning himself or Sark Construction.
He is a known long-term supporter of former government minister Jim McDaid
James Joseph McDaid (born 3 October 1949) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal North-East constituency from June 1989 until he resigned in November 2010. He also served as Minister for Tou ...
, and walked out in support of McDaid when McDaid withdrew his support for Fianna Fáil in acrimonious circumstances in November 2009. This incident played a significant role in the McDaid faction being left without a candidate ahead of the 2011 general election, and led to the rise of Charlie McConalogue
Charlie McConalogue (born 29 October 1977) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine since September 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal constituency since the 2016 g ...
whom Fianna Fáil selected as its candidate instead. Brogan is considered by many to be a successor to McDaid.[ He declined to run as an independent following this snub by party headquarters.] In June 2012, he threatened to make Donegal County Council "unworkable." In November 2012, he clashed with Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty, Jnr in the chamber.
In 2006, Brogan claimed €3,499 in expenses for his role on the HSE's Regional West Forum, while in 2007 this increased to €4,041. He has been Mayor of Letterkenny in the past. He was also instrumental in the motion that led to Donegal County Council supporting Dana Rosemary Scallon
Dana Rosemary Scallon (born Rosemary Brown; 30 August 1951), known professionally as Dana, is an Irish singer and former politician who served as Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004.
While still a schoolgirl she won the 1970 ...
's candidacy for President of Ireland
The president of Ireland ( ga, Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces.
The president holds office for seven years, and can ...
in 2011.
Less than a week after becoming Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council in 2016, Brogan was charged with a drink-driving offence for which he was later convicted and disqualified from driving for three years. The officer at the scene found a "strong smell" of alcohol from within his vehicle and Brogan verbally abused him, telling him "Who the f*** do you think you are?"
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brogan, Ciaran
1970s births
Living people
Fianna Fáil local councillors
Businesspeople from County Donegal
Mayors of Letterkenny
Members of Donegal County Council
Independent local councillors in the Republic of Ireland
Irish businesspeople in construction