Hugh Gibbons (6 July 1916 – 14 November 2007) was an Irish

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 who sat in

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...

(TD) for twelve years, from 1965 to 1977.

Early life

He was born 6 July 1916 in Ballybeg,

Strokestown Strokestown ( ga, Béal na mBuillí), also known as Bellanamullia and Bellanamully, is a small town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is one of the 27 designated Heritage Towns in Ireland. Located in the part of the country marketed for Desti ...

County Roscommon "Steadfast Irish heart" , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Roscommon.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Connacht , subdi ...

, the fourth child of Luke Gibbons and his wife Ellen (née Egan). His parents married in 1910 and his father was a publican and merchant. Hugh Gibbons was educated in Carniska national school, Strokestown, and in 1929 won a scholarship to attend secondary school at

Summerhill College Summerhill College (aka The College of the Immaculate Conception) is a Roman Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys located in the town of Sligo in northwest Ireland. History The school was founded in 1857 by then-Bishop of Elphin, Dr La ...

, Sligo. In 1934 he won a scholarship to

University College Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

and passed his final medical exams in December 1940.

Politics

A medical doctor before entering politics, Gibbons was elected on his first attempt, when he stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the

Roscommon Roscommon (; ) is the county town and the largest town in County Roscommon in Ireland. It is roughly in the centre of Ireland, near the meeting of the N60, N61 and N63 roads. The name Roscommon is derived from Coman mac Faelchon who built ...

constituency at the 1965 general election. After constituency changes, he was re-elected at the 1969 general election in the new Roscommon–Leitrim constituency. He was returned to the Dáil again at the 1973 general election, but did not contest the 1977 general election and retired from politics.

Sports

Gibbons was also holder of three All-Ireland Medals while playing for

in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football and Junior Club Football Championships. In 1940 he played with the county junior team, which won the All-Ireland junior title that year. He then played for the county team which won the All-Ireland senior titles in 1943 and 1944. He also played for and co founded St Ronan's GAA club in North Roscommon.

Death and personal life

He married Josephine Lee in 1949, and they had four sons and two dughters. His son, Brian Gibbons was the Labour Party Welsh Assembly Member for

Aberavon Aberavon ( cy, Aberafan) is a town and community in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The town derived its name from being near the mouth of the river Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship. Today it is essentially a distri ...

from 1999 to 2010. He died on 14 November 2007 at his home in Keadue, aged 91. On his death, he was described by then

Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

Bertie Ahern Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste a ...

as a "sportsman and a scholar".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbons, Hugh 1916 births 2007 deaths Fianna Fáil TDs Irish sportsperson-politicians Members of the 18th Dáil Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil Politicians from County Roscommon Roscommon inter-county Gaelic footballers St Ronan's Gaelic footballers Alumni of the University of Galway People educated at Summerhill College People from Strokestown