Thomas Nolan (27 July 1921 – 17 August 1992) 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 served as Minister for Labour from 1980 to 1981 and

Minister of State at the Department of Health The Minister of State at the Department of Health is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Health of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Health. A Minister of State Minister of State is ...

and

Social Welfare Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet Basic needs, basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refe ...

from 1979 to 1980. He served 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 the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1965 to 1982.

Life and work

Nolan was born in

Myshall Myshall () is a small village 22 km southeast of Carlow town, on the slopes of Mount Leinster, in County Carlow, Ireland. It is situated on the R724 regional road. Adelaide Memorial Church The Church of Ireland Adelaide Memorial Chur ...

County Carlow County Carlow ( ; ga, Contae Cheatharlach) is a county located in the South-East Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Carlow is the second smallest and the third least populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties. Carlow Cou ...

in 1921. He was educated at the De La Salle College in

Muine Bheag Bagenalstown ( ), officially named Muine Bheag (), is a small town on the River Barrow in County Carlow, Ireland. History and name The town grew within the townland of Moneybeg, from Irish ''Muine Bheag'' or ''Muinebheag'' (meaning "small th ...

, County Carlow, and joined the

Irish Defence Forces The Defence Forces ( ga, Fórsaí Cosanta, officially styled ) derives its origins from the Irish Volunteers. Whilst the Irish for ''Defence Forces'' is , as Ó Cearúil (1999) points out, the Defence Forces are officially styled . is used in ...

shortly after his education. He first held political office in 1960, when he was elected to

Carlow County Council Carlow County Council ( ga, Comhairle Chontae Cheatharlach) is the authority responsible for local government in County Carlow, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housin ...

. The following year he was

nominated by the Taoiseach A candidate, or nominee, is the prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position; for example: * to be elected to an office — in this case a candidate selection procedure occurs. * t ...

Seán Lemass Seán Francis Lemass (born John Francis Lemass; 15 July 1899 – 11 May 1971) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1959 to 1966. He also served as Tánaiste from 1957 to 1959, 1951 to 1954 ...

, to the

10th Seanad This is a list of the members of the 10th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1961, after the 1961 general election and served until the close of poll for th ...

. Nolan was first elected to

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 Fianna Fáil TD for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 1965 general election. He was re-elected at a further four general elections, but was defeated at the February 1982 general election, and did not stand again. Nolan had also served as an MEP in the period when MEPs were appointed by national parliaments rather than directly elected, serving from 1973 until the first direct elections in 1979. Nolan was appointed as

and Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare in early 1980 on the nomination of

Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (; 16 September 1925 – 13 June 2006) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach on three occasions – 1979 to 1981, March to December 1982 and 1987 to 1992. He was also Minister for the Gaeltacht from ...

, and briefly entered the cabinet toward the end of his career, serving under Haughey as Minister for Labour from December 1980 to June 1981. His son M. J. Nolan is a former

TD and senator.

References

1921 births 1992 deaths Fianna Fáil TDs Members of the 10th Seanad Members of the 18th Dáil Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil Members of the 21st Dáil Members of the 22nd Dáil Local councillors in County Carlow Fianna Fáil MEPs MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1977–1979 MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1973–1977 MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1973 Politicians from County Carlow Ministers of State of the 21st Dáil Nominated members of Seanad Éireann Fianna Fáil senators {{Ireland-senator-stub

Life and work

See also

References