Tom O'Donnell (politician)

Thomas G. O'Donnell (30 August 1926 – 8 October 2020) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick East from 1961 to 1987. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster constituency from 1979 to 1989.^[2]

He was born in Charleville, County Cork, in 1926. He was educated at the Crescent College, Salesian College and University College Dublin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked as a teacher and a voluntary community activist before becoming involved in politics.

O'Donnell was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick East.^[3] He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Transport, Power and Tourism from 1969 to 1973. He served in the government on one occasion in the National Coalition under Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave between 1973^[1] and 1977 as Minister for the Gaeltacht.^[4] He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Telecommunications from 1977 to 1979. O'Donnell was elected to the European Parliament at the 1979 election, and served until 1989.^[1] He retired from national politics following the 1987 general election at which he lost his seat.^[4] He was spokesperson on Regional Policy for the European People's Party (EPP) from 1979 to 1989.

After his retirement from politics he became actively involved in the voluntary sector. He was Chairperson of the Irish Peace Institute at the University of Limerick,^[1] Chairperson of the PAUL Partnership, Chairperson to the Limerick City and County Strategy Group and the Limerick Employment Pact.

In 2005, he was honoured by Limerick City Council with a civic reception and a special presentation to mark half a century of his political and voluntary services to the people of Limerick City and County.^[5]

He married to Helen O'Connor from Sligo in 1984; they have one son. His uncle Richard O'Connell was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Limerick from 1924 to 1932, and his nephew Kieran O'Donnell is a Fine Gael TD for Limerick City.

O'Donnell died in October 2020 at the age of 94.^[4]

• Families in the Oireachtas

• Personal profile of Tom O'Donnell in the European Parliament's database of members
• Tom O'Donnell in 'Politicians' file at Limerick City Library, Ireland