Liam Burke (2 February 1928 – 21 August 2005) was an Irish
Fine Gael
Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil à ...
politician. He was 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 the
Cork North-Central constituency. Burke was elected to
Dáil Éireann at the
1969 general election for
Cork City North-West.
After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the
1977 general election in the new
Cork City
Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city's ...
constituency, but lost his seat. He was elected to the
14th Seanad
This is a list of the members of the 14th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1977, after the 1977 general election and served until the close of poll for ...
in 1977.
He was returned to the
21st Dáil at a
by-election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
on 7 November 1979 in the same constituency, following the death of the
Labour Party TD
Patrick Kerrigan
Patrick Kerrigan (21 February 1928 – 4 July 1979) was an Irish Labour Party Senator and later a Teachta Dála (TD).
A trade union official, Kerrigan was an unsuccessful candidate in the Cork City North-West constituency at the 1969 gene ...
. That by-election win contributed to the decision of then
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of 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 legislature) and the o ...
Jack Lynch to resign in December 1979.
Burke lost his seat for the second time at the
1989 general election but regained it at the
1992 general election. He then retained his seat until retiring aged 74 at the
2002 general election.
At that time he and
Harry Blaney
Harry Blaney (18 February 1928 – 29 April 2013) was an Irish Independent Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal North-East constituency. His father was Neal Blaney, who was a TD from 1927 to 1948.
Blaney was def ...
shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.
He was educated at
Christian Brothers College, Cork
Christian Brothers College, Cork (CBC Cork, colloquially known as Christians) is a fee-paying school under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust in Cork, Ireland.
Their sister school in Dublin is CBC Monkstown.
History
In the mid ...
, and
University College Cork
University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork.
The university was founded in 1845 as one ...
. He was
Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork ( ga, Ard-Mhéara Chathair ChorcaÃ) is the honorific title of the Chairperson ( ga, Cathaoirleach) of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The office holder is elected annu ...
from 1984 to 1985.
Burke died on 21 August 2005, aged 77.
His sister, Mary Woods, was elected as a councillor for Fine Gael on the Town Council for
Midleton
Midleton (; , meaning "monastery at the weir") is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies approximately 16 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare. A satellit ...
, County Cork from 1985 until town councils were abolished in 2014. His uncle
Tadhg Manley was a Fine Gael TD from 1954 to 1961. He was a cousin of
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 Páirtà Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christia ...
MEP
Billy Kelleher.
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References
1928 births
2005 deaths
Fine Gael TDs
Members of the 19th Dáil
Members of the 20th Dáil
Members of the 13th Seanad
Members of the 21st Dáil
Members of the 14th Seanad
Members of the 22nd Dáil
Members of the 23rd Dáil
Members of the 24th Dáil
Members of the 25th Dáil
Members of the 27th Dáil
Members of the 28th Dáil
Local councillors in Cork (city)
Lord Mayors of Cork
Nominated members of Seanad Éireann
Fine Gael senators
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