James O'Reilly, also known as Seamas O'Reilly, (1916–1992) was a

nationalist Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...

politician in Ireland. O'Reilly was a farmer and an activist in the Nationalist Party and was elected to Kilkeel

Rural District Council Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the Ad ...

. He stood unsuccessfully for the

Irish Anti-Partition League The Irish Anti-Partition League (APL) was a political organisation based in Northern Ireland which campaigned for a united Ireland from 1945 to 1958. Foundation Prior to the establishment of the League, there had been no rank-and-file organis ...

in the 1948 Armagh by-election.Brendan Lynn, ''Holding the Ground: The Nationalist Party in Northern Ireland, 1945 – 72'' (1997), O'Reilly was elected in the 1958 Northern Ireland general election, representing Mourne, holding the seat until the abolition of the

Parliament of Northern Ireland The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended because of its inability to restore ord ...

in 1972.Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
/ref> He became prominent in the 1960s, when he tried to have

Orange Order The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants, particularly those of Ulster Scots heritage. It also ...

parades through Kilkeel rerouted. From February to April 1966 and February 1967 to February 1969, he was the deputy chair of Ways and Means and

Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons The Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons was the presiding officer of the lower house of Parliament in Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. The Speaker had an official residence, Stormont House. All the Speakers were members of the ...

. After the 1969 Northern Ireland general election, he served as the

whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...

of the Opposition Alliance, before succeeding Roderick O'Connor as Nationalist Party whip. He was invited to join the

Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) ( ga, Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is a social-democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland ...

on its formation, but chose to remain a Nationalist Party member. O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in South Down at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oreilly, James 1916 births 1992 deaths Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1958–1962 Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1962–1965 Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1965–1969 Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1969–1973 Nationalist Party (Ireland) members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for County Down constituencies