Martin McAleese | |
|---|---|
 McAleese in 2009 | |
| Chancellor ofDublin City University | |
| Assumed office 21 August 2011 | |
| President | Brian MacCraith |
| Preceded by | David Byrne |
| Senator | |
| In office 25 May 2011 – 5 February 2013 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-03-24)24 March 1951 (age 74) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
Martin McAleese (born 24 March 1951) is an Irish politician, dentist and accountant who has served as theChancellor ofDublin City University since August 2011. He served as aSenator from 2011 to 2013, after beingNominated by the Taoiseach. He is the husband of formerpresident of Ireland,Mary McAleese.[1]
McAleese was born inBelfast in 1951. He was educated atSt Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast. He then studied atQueen's University Belfast, obtaining an honoursBachelor of Science in Physics.[citation needed] He playedGaelic football for theAntrim Minors and was captain of the team in 1969. In 1972, after he graduated he moved toDublin and trained there as an accountant with the chartered accountancy firm of Stokes, Kennedy, Crowley. He later worked as financial controller for anAer Lingus subsidiary.[citation needed]
McAleese marriedMary Leneghan in 1976. The couple resided in Scholarstown, Dublin, for a short period, and then for almost twelve years nearRatoath,County Meath.[2] In 1980, he returned to full-time education atTrinity College Dublin, to study as a dentist,[2] subsequently moving back, with his family, toNorthern Ireland, where he practised as a dentist inCrossmaglen andBessbrook,County Armagh.
While his wife served asPresident of Ireland, McAleese initiated a series of meetings with seniorUlster loyalist paramilitary leaders to pursue peace negotiations. These actions did not take place without controversy, but have been widely viewed as instrumental in bringing loyalist paramilitary groups to peace talks.[3]
In May 2011, McAleesewas appointed as aSenator by theTaoiseachEnda Kenny.[4][5] In August 2011, he was appointed the Chancellor ofDublin City University, taking over fromDavid Byrne.
On 1 February 2013, McAleese announced his intention to resign as a member ofSeanad Éireann.[3][6]
McAleese accepted an appointment as Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Committee which was set up by theGovernment of Ireland to investigate theMagdalene laundries.[7][8] His findings have been criticised by some survivors and researchers from the Magdalene Names project.[9]
On 18–19 October 2014, McAleese attended the One Young World Summit in Dublin as a keynote speaker. Here, he hosted a special session for the One Young World Peace and Conflict Resolution Project alongside formerUlster Defence Association (UDA) prisonerJackie McDonald and formerIrish Republican Army (IRA) prisonerSean Murray.[10] They addressed young people from 191 countries to share and develop ideas to strengthen efforts at conflict resolution in their own countries.[11]
Martin and his wife Mary have three children. The family moved toRostrevor,County Down, in 1987, when Martin set up practice in County Armagh.[2]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chancellor of Dublin City University August 2011–present | Incumbent |