Gerry Lennon facts for kids
James Gerrard Lennon (1907–1976), known as Gerry Lennon, was an important figure in Northern Ireland's history. He was a lawyer and a politician who worked to unite Ireland.
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Gerry Lennon: A Life in Politics
Gerry Lennon was born in 1907 and lived until February 1976. He spent much of his life working as a lawyer and fighting for his political beliefs. He is remembered for his efforts to bring people together and for his role in Northern Irish politics.
Early Steps in Politics
Gerry Lennon first tried to become a politician in 1933. He ran for the National League of the North in South Armagh, but he didn't win that election.
However, his political journey continued. In 1944, he was chosen to be a member of the Senate of Northern Ireland. The Senate was a special group of lawmakers. He served as a Senator for a long time, until the Senate stopped meeting in 1972. From 1948 to 1950, he also served as an assistant leader, called a Deputy Speaker, in the Senate.
Working for Rights and Unity
Gerry Lennon was very active in groups that wanted to see Ireland united. He was part of the Irish Anti-Partition League, which worked towards this goal.
In 1951, he became the Vice President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). This was a group that supported Irish culture and rights. He stayed in this role until 1975.
From 1962 to 1963, Gerry Lennon took part in special discussions known as the "Orange and Green" talks. These talks were with George Clark, a leader from the Orange Lodge. These discussions aimed to find common ground between different groups in Northern Ireland.
A Leader for Change
In 1965, Lennon became the main leader for the Nationalist group in the Senate. This meant he was a key voice for his political party. In 1975, he became the President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH).
He was also involved in the Northern Irish Civil Rights Association. This group worked for equal rights for everyone in Northern Ireland. In July 1969, Gerry Lennon even took part in a peaceful sit-down protest at Armagh City Hall to support civil rights.
