Micheál Anthony Prendergast (c.1921 – 25 March 1998) was an Irish farmer and trader, businessman and company director, and

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. He was born in

Farranfore Farranfore () is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. It lies on the N22 road approximately midway between Tralee (10 miles or 17 km) and Killarney (9 miles or 15 km) and on the railway line connecting the two towns. Farranf ...

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 ...

and was raised in Kilcock,

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...

. He married Barbara from Australia in 1959, and they had one son and six daughters. He was a member of the Irish Live Stock Exporters' and Traders' Association and was its chairman in 1961 and 1969. He was a member of the national executive of the Irish Livestock Trade and was its chairman in 1970. He was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board. He spent many years in the livestock export business. He was a council member of the Agricultural Institute, now known as

Teagasc Teagasc (, meaning "Instruction") is the State-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland, semi-state authority in Republic of Ireland, Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector. The ...

, from 1960 to 1963. He was a member of

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann ( ; ; "Senate of Ireland") is the senate of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (defined as the house of representatives). It is commonly called the Seanad or ...

from 1954 to 1973 and from 1975 to 1977. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1954 by the

Agricultural Panel The Agricultural Panel is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). The Agricultural Panel elects eleven senators. Election Article 18 ...

. He did not contest the 1973 election but was elected in a

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

on 23 April 1975 by the

Administrative Panel The Administrative Panel is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Republic of Ireland, Ireland). The Administrative Panel elects seven senator ...

, replacing

Seán Brosnan Seán Brosnan (21 December 1916 – 18 April 1979) was an Irish barrister and Fianna Fáil politician. He served for 10 years in the Oireachtas, as a Teachta Dála (TD) and as a Seanad Éireann, senator. Brosnan was a native of Dingle, County ...

who had been elected to

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 ...

. He lost his seat at the 1977 election. He retired to Australia in 1986 and died in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

in 1998.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prendergast, Micheal 1920s births 1998 deaths Fine Gael senators Members of the 8th Seanad Members of the 9th Seanad Members of the 10th Seanad Members of the 11th Seanad Members of the 12th Seanad Members of the 13th Seanad 20th-century Irish farmers Politicians from County Kildare Politicians from County Kerry 20th-century Irish businesspeople Agricultural Panel senators Administrative Panel senators