Frank Fahy | |
|---|---|
.png) Fahy in 1933 | |
| Ceann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann | |
| In office 9 March 1932 – 13 June 1951 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Hayes |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Hogan |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 1951 – 12 July 1953 | |
| Constituency | Galway South |
| In office July 1937 – May 1951 | |
| Constituency | Galway East |
| In office May 1921 – July 1937 | |
| Constituency | Galway |
| In office December 1918 – May 1921 | |
| Constituency | Galway South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francis Patrick Fahy (1879-05-23)23 May 1879 Kilchreest,County Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 12 July 1953(1953-07-12) (aged 73) Phibsborough,Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Mungret College |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
Francis Patrick Fahy (23 May 1879 – 12 July 1953) was an IrishFianna Fáil politician who served asCeann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann from 1932 to 1951. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) from 1919 to his death in 1953.[1]
He was aTeachta Dála (TD) for 35 years, first forSinn Féin and later as a member ofFianna Fáil, before becomingCeann Comhairle (chairperson) for over 19 years.[2]
Fahy was born on 23 May 1879 in thetownland of Glanatallin, Kilchreest,County Galway,[3] the eldest of 6 children born to John Fahy and Maria Jones. His father taught at the local National School. After an early education at his father's school in Kilchreest, he attendedMungret College inCounty Limerick. He later studied atUniversity College Galway. He earned aBachelor of Arts and a H.Dip. in Education, and a Diploma in Science. From 1906 to 1921 he taught Latin, Irish and Science atCastleknock College (St Vincent's College),Dublin. Fahy qualified as a barrister in 1927 atKing's Inns,Dublin and also taught at theChristian Brothers school inTralee. He was at one time General Secretary of theConradh na Gaeilge. He marriedAnna Barton ofTralee, a metal artist and member of theCumann na mBan in 1908. They had no children.[2]
As Company Captain of C Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers, Fahy commanded the contingent that occupied the Four Courts during the 1916 rising. Arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison, he spent terms in several British jails. Released in the general amnesty of June 1917, he was active in the reorganisation of the Volunteer movement, addressing public meetings throughout the country.[2] Fahy later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 5 and 1/6 years service in 1937 at Grade D for his service with the Irish Volunteers from 23 April 1916 to June 1917.[4]
Fahy was first elected at the1918 general election as aSinn FéinMember of Parliament (MP) forGalway South, but as the party was pledged toabstentionism he did not take his seat in theBritish House of Commons and joined the revolutionaryFirst Dáil. He was re-elected as TD forGalway in1921 general election and having sided with the anti-treaty forces following theAnglo-Irish Treaty, he did not take his seat in either the3rd Dáil or the4th Dáil. Referring to the treaty, in 1922 Fahy said: "Can a Treaty based on fear, naked and unashamed, be a sound basis for friendship between the two peoples?"[5]
He joinedFianna Fáil when the party was founded in 1926, and along with the 42 other Fianna Fáil TDs he took his seat in the5th Dáil on 12 August 1927,[6] three days before the Dáil tied 71 votes to 71 on amotion of no confidence inW. T. Cosgrave'sCumann na nGaedheal government (a tie broken by theCeann Comhairle).[7] After the government won two by-elections later that month, it dissolved the Dáil, leading to a fresh election.
After theSeptember 1927 election, Cosgrave was able to form a minority government with the support of theFarmers' Party and someindependent TDs. However, in the1932 general election, Fianna Fáil won just under half of the seats and formed a government with the support of theLabour Party. The first business was of the7th Dáil was the election of theCeann Comhairle, and on 9 March 1932 Fahy was nominated for the position bySeán T. O'Kelly, winning the vote by a margin of 78 to 71.[8]
He held the post until Fianna Fáil lost the1951 election, and at the start of the14th Dáil he did not offer himself for re-election as Ceann Comhairle. He was succeeded by the Labour TDPatrick Hogan.[9] His 19 years in the chair remains the longest of any Ceann Comhairle, with the only other person to exceed 10 years as Ceann Comhairle being his successor, Patrick Hogan.[10]
The 1932 election was the last which Fahy contested; as Ceann Comhairle, he was automatically re-elected at the next seven elections. When hisGalway constituency was divided for the1937 general election, he was returned unopposed for the newGalway East, and similarly in1948 for the newGalway South constituency.[11]
Fahy died on 12 July 1953,[12] and is buried atDeans Grange Cemetery, Dublin. TheGalway South by-election held after his death was won by the Fianna Fáil candidateRobert Lahiffe.[13]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forGalway South 1918–1922 | Constituency abolished |
| Oireachtas | ||
| New constituency | Teachta Dála forGalway South 1918–1921 | Constituency abolished |
| Oireachtas | ||
| Preceded by | Ceann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann 1932–1951 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
