Patrick Joseph Sheehan (1 March 1933 – 10 August 2020) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the

Cork South-West Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

constituency from 1981 to 2002 and 2007 to 2011.

Career

Before entering politics, Sheehan worked as an auctioneer, merchant, and farmer, and used his experiences in these fields to establish his political base. He was involved in politics for more than 50 years. In 1967, he was elected to Cork County Council for the first time. He was a prominent campaigner for rural rights. He once clashed with Taoiseach Charles Haughey 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 ...

. Sheehan was first elected to the Dáil at the 1981 general election, and retained his

seat until losing it at the 2002 general election. He regained his seat at the 2007 general election at the age of 74. He served as Fine Gael's deputy spokesperson on Agriculture with special responsibility for Forestry until 2010. He and fellow Fine Gael TD

Jim O'Keeffe Jim O'Keeffe (born 31 March 1941) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State from 1981 to 1982 and again from 982 to 1987. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-West constituency from 1977 to 2011. O' ...

were noted for their cooperation within their constituency that successfully foiled Fianna Fáil's efforts to garner another seat in west Cork. Sheehan's support base was concentrated in Goleen, which is approximately 400 km away from the Dáil. Because of this, he would quip that he was the TD "furthest from the Dáil and nearest to the White House". Sheehan retired from politics at the 2011 general election. On 20 September 2010, Sheehan resigned his position as Fine Gael's deputy spokesperson on Agriculture and apologised for being under the influence of alcohol and threatening a Garda officer after she prevented him from driving while leaving Leinster House in July 2010. He was reported to have threatened her career if she disrupted him. His party leader, Enda Kenny, told a sergeant to "ignore what Sheehan had said".

Personal life

Sheehan was married to Frances Collins. Together they had four children. He died on 10 August 2020, aged 87, one week after his wife died.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheehan, P.J. 1933 births 2020 deaths Fine Gael TDs 20th-century Irish farmers Members of Cork County Council Members of the 22nd Dáil Members of the 23rd Dáil Members of the 24th Dáil Members of the 25th Dáil Members of the 26th Dáil Members of the 27th Dáil Members of the 28th Dáil Members of the 30th Dáil 21st-century Irish farmers