John Blennerhassett (1930 – 22 September 2013) was an Irish

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, 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 Éireann. The party had a member ...

politician from

County Kerry County Kerry () is a Counties of Ireland, county on the southwest coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is bordered by two other countie ...

. A farm owner and former drapery buyer, he stood unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate for

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall co ...

in the Kerry North constituency at the

1969 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1969th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 969th year of the 2nd millennium, the 69th year of the 20th century, and the ...

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

, and 1977 general elections. Blennerhassett did not stand for the Dáil again, but after his 1973 defeat he was

nominated by the Taoiseach A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

Liam Cosgrave Liam Cosgrave (13 April 1920 – 4 October 2017) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1973 to 1977, Leader of Fine Gael from 1965 to 1977, Leader of the Opposition from 1965 to 1973, Minister for External Affairs fro ...

to the

13th Seanad The 13th Seanad was in office from 1973 to 1977. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1973 general election to the 20th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 14th Se ...

. He was re-elected in 1977 to the

14th Seanad The 14th Seanad was in office from 1977 to 1981. An election to 43 of the 60 seats in Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) took place in August 1977, following the 1977 general election to the 21st Dáil. The remaini ...

and in 1981 to the

15th Seanad The 15th Seanad was in office from 1981 to 1982. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 16th Se ...

, but the party did not nominate him for the 1982 Seanad election. He blamed the Fine Gael leader

Garret FitzGerald Garret Desmond FitzGerald (9 February 192619 May 2011) was an Irish Fine Gael politician, economist, and barrister who served twice as Taoiseach, serving from 1981 to 1982 and 1982 to 1987. He served as Leader of Fine Gael from 1977 to 1987 an ...

, and resigned from the party. He was also a member of

Kerry County Council Kerry County Council () is the Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authority of County Kerry, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roa ...

from 1974 to 1991 and of

Tralee Tralee ( ; , ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the River Lee') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in ...

Urban District Council from 1967 to 1994 and of Tralee Town Council from 1999 to 2004. He died on 22 September 2013, aged 83.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blennerhassett, John 1930 births 2013 deaths Fine Gael senators Members of the 13th Seanad Members of the 14th Seanad Members of the 15th Seanad Politicians from County Kerry

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

Nominated members of Seanad Éireann Fine Gael candidates in Dáil elections Labour Panel senators