Kieran McCarthy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kieran McCarthy
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| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 30 March 2016 |
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| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Kellie Armstrong |
| Member of Ards Borough Council |
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| In office 15 May 1985 – 22 May 2014 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Constituency | Ards Peninsula |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member for Strangford |
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| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Forum created |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 September 1942 Newtownards, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Alliance |
| Spouse | Kathleen McCarthy |
Kieran McCarthy (born 9 September 1942) is a retired politician from the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI). He was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the area of Strangford from 1998 to 2016. In the Assembly, he also served as the main leader for his party.
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Early Life and Career
Kieran McCarthy was born in Newtownards, a town in Northern Ireland. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a draper, which means he sold cloth and fabric.
Becoming a Local Leader
In 1985, Kieran McCarthy was first elected to the Ards Borough Council. This council helps make decisions for the local area. In 1990, he became a Justice of the Peace. A Justice of the Peace is a volunteer who helps with legal tasks, like signing documents.
Working for Peace
In 1996, Kieran McCarthy was chosen to be part of the Northern Ireland Peace Forum. This group was set up to discuss ways to bring peace to Northern Ireland. He represented the Strangford area.
Joining the Assembly
After the Peace Forum, he won a seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly. He kept his seat in all three elections for this group. The Assembly is where politicians make laws for Northern Ireland. In the 2007 elections, another party tried to win his seat, but he won easily with many more votes.
Views on Government
Kieran McCarthy has often said how much he values the Good Friday Agreement. This important agreement helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. He believed that a different kind of agreement, where local parties had more power, would work even better.
Dislike of Direct Rule
He also strongly disliked "Direct Rule." This is when the government in London makes decisions for Northern Ireland instead of local politicians. He felt this meant people in Northern Ireland had less say in their own government. He also disagreed with the way the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, was governing at the time.
