Patrick J. Reynolds (politician) explained

Office:Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Term Start:23 February 1983
Term End:25 April 1987
Predecessor:Tras Honan
Successor:Tras Honan
Office1:Parliamentary Secretary
Suboffice1:Local Government
Subterm1:1976–1977
Suboffice2:Public Service
Subterm2:1976–1977
Office3:Senator
Term Start3:27 October 1977
Term End3:25 April 1987
Constituency3:Industrial and Commercial Panel
Constituency4:Administrative Panel
Term Start4:5 November 1969
Term End4:28 February 1973
Office5:Teachta Dála
Term Start5:February 1973
Term End5:June 1977
Constituency5:Roscommon–Leitrim
Term Start6:October 1961
Term End6:June 1969
Constituency6:Roscommon
Birth Date:25 November 1920
Birth Place:Killellan, County Leitrim, Ireland
Death Place:Ballinamore, County Leitrim, Ireland
Party:Fine Gael
Father:Patrick Reynolds
Mother:Mary Reynolds
Spouse:Tess Reynolds
Children:4, including Gerry

Patrick Joseph Reynolds (25 November 1920 – 27 December 2003) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served three terms in Dáil Éireann and five in Seanad Éireann, where he was Cathaoirleach (chairperson) for four years.[1]

Family and early life

Reynolds was born in Killellan, County Leitrim in 1920. His father Patrick Reynolds was elected as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) for Leitrim–Sligo at the September 1927 general election, but was fatally shot during the 1932 general election campaign. The election in Leitrim–Sligo was postponed, and his mother Mary won the seat, serving the Dáil for 24 years.[2]

He was educated locally, receiving only a primary school education before his father's death forced him to leave school and join the family business.[3] He built the business successfully, transforming the hardware shop which he had inherited from into one of the largest builders' suppliers and hardware merchants in the north west.[4]

With his wife Tess, he had two sons, Gerry and Peter, and two daughters, Ita and Regina.[5] Gerry continued the family's political tradition, serving like his father as a Fine Gael TD and senator.

Political career

Reynolds was first elected to Leitrim County Council in 1943, and served as a councillor for more than 40 years, taking a particular interest in rural electrification and group water schemes.[3] He was the longest-serving chair of the council, holding the office for 12 years from 1967 to 1979.[4]

He was first elected to the 17th Dáil at the 1961 general election, as a TD for the Roscommon constituency. He was re-elected at the 1965 general election, but at the 1969 general election he was defeated in the new Roscommon–Leitrim constituency. He was then elected to the 12th Seanad by the Administrative Panel.[6]

The 1960s proved to be a fallow period for Fine Gael as the party was out of power for the entire decade, but at the 1973 general election a Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government came to power and Reynolds was elected to the 20th Dáil for Roscommon–Leitrim.[6] In 1976, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and to the Minister for the Public Service. In spite of this appointment, Reynolds lost his Dáil seat at the 1977 general election. Following this defeat, he secured election to the 14th Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, which re-elected him to the 15th Seanad in 1981, the 16th Seanad in 1982 and 17th Seanad in 1983.

He was elected on 23 February 1983 as Cathaoirleach of the 17th Seanad,[7] succeeding Tras Honan. He held the office until he stepped down from the Seanad at the 1987 election.

Reynolds died on 27 December 2003, aged 83, and was buried in his home town of Ballinamore, County Leitrim.[4] Tributes in the Seanad after his death described him as a traditionalist or conservative, but praised his warmth, fairness and integrity,[5] and the Irish Independent described his hospitality as "legendary".[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrick Reynolds. Oireachtas Members Database. 21 February 2008. 8 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184339/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-J-Reynolds.D.1961-10-11. live.
  2. Book: Women in Parliament: Ireland 1918–2000. McNamara, Maedhbh. Mooney, Paschal . Paschal Mooney . 2000. Wolfhound Press, Dublin. 91. 0-86327-759-4.
  3. News: Former TD was 'synonymous with Fine Gael in Leitrim'. 3 January 2004. The Irish Times. 21 February 2008. 12 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121012025545/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2004/0103/1072998383073.html. live.
  4. Web site: Obituary:Pat Joe Reynolds. 4 January 2004. Sunday Independent. 20 February 2008. 20 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110520030110/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/migration/pat-joe-reynolds-476016.html. live.
  5. Web site: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy – Seanad Éireann (22nd Seanad) – Wednesday, 21 January 2004. Oireachtas. 21 December 2019. 21 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221114343/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2004-01-21/3/. live.
  6. Web site: Patrick Reynolds. ElectionsIreland.org. 21 February 2008. 9 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309085658/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=9049. live.
  7. Web site: Election of Cathaoirleach. – Seanad Éireann (17th Seanad) – Wednesday, 23 February 1983. Oireachtas. 21 December 2019. 21 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221114118/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1983-02-23/2/. live.