Luke 'Ming' Flanagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan
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Flanagan in 2019
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2014 |
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| Constituency | Midlands–North-West |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2011 – May 2014 |
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| Constituency | Roscommon–South Leitrim |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Luke Flanagan
22 January 1972 Roscommon, Ireland |
| Political party |
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| Other political affiliations |
New Vision (2011) |
| Spouse |
Judith Flanagan
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (born 22 January 1972) is an Irish politician. He has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Midlands–North-West area of Ireland since 2014. He is an independent politician. This means he does not belong to a specific political party. In the European Parliament, he works with a group called The Left.
Before becoming an MEP, Luke Flanagan was a member of Roscommon County Council from 2004 to 2011. He was first elected in 2004 and then again in 2009. He even served as the Mayor of Roscommon from 2010 until 2011. In 2011, he was elected as a TD, which is a member of the Irish Parliament, for the Roscommon–South Leitrim area. He served in the Irish Parliament for three years. In 2014, he was elected as an independent candidate to the European Parliament. He is known for speaking up on important public issues.
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Early Life and Education
Luke Flanagan was born in Roscommon, Ireland, on January 22, 1972. He grew up in Castlerea. His father was a carpenter, and his mother was a housewife. He studied science for two years at Galway Regional Technical College. After that, he studied mechanical engineering at Sligo RTC.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Luke Flanagan began his political journey as an independent candidate in 1997. He ran in the Galway West area during the general election. He also ran in the Connacht–Ulster area for the European Parliament in 1999. In 2002, he ran in the Longford–Roscommon area.
During these early campaigns, he gained media attention for his unique appearance. He styled his hair and beard like a character called "Ming the Merciless" from the Flash Gordon comic strip. His posters often featured symbols related to his ideas. He spoke strongly about social and environmental issues.
Serving Locally
Roscommon County Council (2004–2011)
Luke Flanagan returned to his hometown of Castlerea, County Roscommon. In 2004, he was elected to the Roscommon County Council. He received the most votes in his area and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected in 2009, again topping the poll with many first-choice votes.
Mayor of County Roscommon (2010–2011)
On June 28, 2010, Luke Flanagan was chosen as the Mayor of Roscommon County Council. While he was mayor, he decided to take a 50 percent pay cut from his mayoral allowance. He also did not take any money for foreign travel. He encouraged other politicians to do the same.
In July 2010, there was a discussion because he did not want to lead the prayer before council meetings. He explained that it would not be honest for him to lead it, as he is not a believer. The issue was solved by asking the Deputy Mayor to say the prayer instead. In December 2010, he suggested that his mayoral allowance should be cut in half. He also proposed getting rid of many other allowances. He did this because the country and county were facing financial difficulties.
In the Irish Parliament (2011–2014)
Luke Flanagan was elected to represent the Roscommon–South Leitrim area in the 31st Dáil (Irish Parliament) in the 2011 general election. He was part of a group of independent candidates called New Vision. He received a large number of votes and secured his seat early in the counting process.
After being elected, Luke Flanagan kept his promise to take only half of his salary. He gave the other half to local projects. He believed this money should help local communities. In March 2011, he announced that he would focus on important issues for his family. He continued to speak out on various topics.
In July 2011, a microphone in the Irish Parliament picked up a conversation he had with other independent members. They appeared to be making comments about another politician's appearance.
In November 2011, Luke Flanagan walked out of the Parliament during a disagreement. This was about the rights of people to cut turf (peat) for fuel. He argued with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. He mentioned that some politicians had made promises about this issue before the election.
In December 2011, Luke Flanagan helped start a national campaign. This campaign was against a proposed household charge that was part of the 2012 Irish budget. In April 2012, he encouraged people to vote 'No' in a referendum about a European treaty. He believed Ireland would lose power to larger countries in the European Union. He also suggested that Ireland should leave the economic and monetary union, which uses the euro currency.
In June 2013, Luke Flanagan became a strong supporter of turf cutters. Their ability to cut turf was affected by a rule from the European Union called the Habitats Directive. He attended several protests to support them. He believes in the right to cut turf from bogs, even if they are protected areas. He has cut turf in a protected bog near Castlerea.
In the European Parliament (2014–Present)
On March 21, 2014, Luke Flanagan announced he would run as an independent candidate for the Midlands–North-West area in the European Parliament election. He ran on a platform that questioned some aspects of the European Union. He said he wanted to have more influence on important issues at the European level. He was elected on May 26, 2014.
After being elected as an MEP, Luke Flanagan changed his policy of only keeping half his salary. He was re-elected in the 2019 European Parliament election and again in the 2024 European Parliament election.
Personal Life
Luke Flanagan is married to Judith Flanagan, and they have three daughters. He identifies as an atheist. He is also autistic. He is a long-time supporter of the English football club Queens Park Rangers F.C..
Social Media Incident
In September 2020, Luke Flanagan's Twitter account was hacked. A tweet was posted that caused a lot of trouble. In February 2024, his former assistant, Diarmuid Hayes, admitted in court to hacking the account. Hayes was upset because his contract was not renewed after the 2019 European Parliament elections. Hayes was sentenced to community service.
Luke Flanagan told the court that the incident caused great difficulty for his family. He described it as a "cold, calculated and skillfully carried out attempt" to harm his reputation. He also shared that he had to seek therapy because of the media's reaction. He said it was hard to believe what had happened and that politicians who claim to be hacked are often not believed.
