Jack Fitzsimons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Fitzsimons
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Fitzsimons in 2007
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| Senator | |
| In office February 1983 – November 1989 |
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| Constituency | Industrial and Commercial Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1930 Gravelstown, Carlanstown, County Meath, Ireland |
| Died | 4 November 2014 (aged 84) Navan, County Meath, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Occupation | Architect, politician and writer |
Jack Fitzsimons (born April 26, 1930 – died November 4, 2014) was an important Irish person. He was a skilled architect and surveyor, based in Kells, County Meath. This means he designed buildings and also measured land. He was also a politician and a writer.
He was a member of the Fianna Fáil political party. He served in the Seanad Éireann, which is like one of the houses of the Irish parliament. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1983. He was chosen to represent people working in industry and business. He was re-elected in 1987.
Jack Fitzsimons: Architect and Politician
His Time in the Seanad
While in the Seanad, Jack Fitzsimons often spoke about important topics. He had a good understanding of how to protect Ireland's history. For example, he talked about changes to the National Monuments Bill. This bill helps to keep old buildings and historical sites safe.
He also spoke about saving traditional Irish homes. These are often called thatched cottages because they have roofs made of straw. He later wrote a detailed book about these special houses. He lost his seat in the Seanad in the 1989 election.
Standing Up for His Beliefs
Soon after the 1989 election, Jack Fitzsimons decided to leave his political party, Fianna Fáil. He wrote a letter explaining his reasons. He felt there was "no ideology, no consistency, no positive approach" within the party. He also believed that open discussion was not encouraged.
After leaving Fianna Fáil, he ran for election as an independent candidate. This means he did not belong to any political party. He ran in the 1994 European Parliament elections. He wanted to represent the Leinster area.
He had strong views on certain issues. His election plan included being against hunting and hare coursing. Hare coursing is a sport where dogs chase hares. He continued to be an activist on other topics too. For example, he spoke out about how local councils managed things like septic tanks.
