Thomas McEllistrim (15 January 1926 – 25 February 2000) was an Irish

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

politician who served as a

Minister of State Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior minister ...

from 1979 to 1981 and from March 1982 to December 1982. He served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

(TD) for the Kerry North constituency from 1969 to 1987 and 1989 to 1992 and a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

from 1987 to 1989, after being

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 ...

Biography

Born in

Boherbue Boherbue (post office spelling) or Boherboy (Ordnance Survey spelling) () is a village in north-west County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The village is in the Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of Kilmeen in the Barony of Duhallow, a ...

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

, in 1926, McEllistrim was the son of the

politician and

War of Independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...

veteran, Tom McEllistrim. McEllistrim the younger succeeded his father when he was 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 ...

as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Kerry North constituency at the 1969 general election. At the 1977 general election, McEllistrim was elected along with his running mate Kit Ahern. This was the first time that

had won two seats in the three-seat Kerry North constituency. McEllistrim, who was given much credit for this victory, was disappointed not to receive a promotion as a

. McEllistrim became disillusioned with the

Taoiseach The Taoiseach (, ) is the head of government or prime minister of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

and party leader

Jack Lynch John Mary Lynch (15 August 1917 – 20 October 1999) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. He was Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 to 1979, Leader of the Opposition from 1973 to 1977, ...

from then and began to believe that

Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (; 16 September 1925 – 13 June 2006) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who led four governments as Taoiseach: December 1979 to June 1981, March to December 1982, March 1987 to June 1989, and June 1989 to February 1992 ...

was the right candidate for the party leadership. McEllistrim believed that Lynch was about to retire and was uncomfortable at the thought of

George Colley George Colley (18 October 1925 – 17 September 1983) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 1977 to 1981, Minister for Energy from 1980 to 1981, Minister for Tourism and Transport from 1979 to 1980, Minister for ...

succeeding Lynch. Like his father before him, he believed Colley was not right for the role of leader of the party and not republican enough. McEllistrim was particularly vocal with regard to party policy towards

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

and, as he saw it, Lynch's apparent lack of sympathy towards the northern

nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...

community. McEllistrim was a member of the so-called "gang of five" along with Seán Doherty,

Mark Killilea Jnr Mark Killilea Jnr (5 September 1939 – 31 December 2018) was a farmer, auctioneer and agricultural contractor who served as an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. In a 30-year political career, served as a Teachta Dála (TD) and Member of the Europ ...

, Jackie Fahey and

Albert Reynolds Albert Martin Reynolds (3 November 1932 – 21 August 2014) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994. He held various cabinet positions between 1979 and 1991, including Ministe ...

who started a lobbying campaign in favour of Haughey on the backbenches of the party. After Lynch lost two

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 ...

s in his native

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

he resigned as party leader in December 1979. Two days later, the leadership contest was called. It was a two-way race between Haughey and Colley, which Haughey won by a decisive margin. Ellistrim was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the

Office of Public Works The Office of Public Works (OPW) (; legally the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland) is a major Government of Ireland, Irish Government agency, which manages most of the Irish State's property portfolio, including hundreds of owned and ren ...

. Fianna Fáil went into opposition after the 1981 general election, but returned to office after the February 1982 general election. McEllistrim was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Fisheries and Forestry with responsibility for Forestry, serving from March to December 1982. McEllistrim lost his seat at the 1987 general election by four votes to

Dick Spring Richard Martin Spring (born 29 August 1950) is an Irish former Labour Party (Ireland), Labour Party politician who served as Tánaiste from 1982 to 1987, 1992 to November 1994, and December 1994 to 1997, Leader of the Labour Party (Ireland), L ...

. After being nominated to

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 ...

as a senator, he regained his seat at the 1989 general election but did not retain it at the 1992 general election when he lost to constituency colleague Denis Foley. McEllistrim died aged 74 on 25 February 2000. His son, Tom McEllistrim, was a TD for Kerry North from 2002 to 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McEllistrim, Tom 1926 births 2000 deaths Fianna Fáil TDs Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil Members of the 21st Dáil Members of the 22nd Dáil Members of the 23rd Dáil Members of the 24th Dáil Members of the 18th Seanad Members of the 26th Dáil Members of Kerry County Council Politicians from County Kerry Ministers of State of the 23rd Dáil Ministers of State of the 21st Dáil Nominated members of Seanad Éireann Fianna Fáil senators

Biography

See also

References