P. J. Sheehan facts for kids

Patrick Joseph Sheehan (born March 1, 1933 – died August 10, 2020) was an important Irish politician. He was a member of the Fine Gael political party. Mr. Sheehan served as a Teachta Dála (TD), which is like a member of parliament in Ireland. He represented the Cork South-West area. He was a TD from 1981 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2011.

Sheehan's Early Life and Career

Before he became a politician, P.J. Sheehan had several jobs. He worked as an auctioneer, a merchant, and a farmer. These experiences helped him understand the needs of people in his area. He was involved in politics for over 50 years. In 1967, he was first elected to the Cork County Council. This council helps manage local affairs in County Cork.

Fighting for Rural Rights

P.J. Sheehan was well-known for speaking up for people in rural areas. He believed in protecting the rights of farmers and country communities. He even had a famous disagreement with Charles Haughey, who was the Taoiseach (the leader of the Irish government) at the time. This happened in Dáil Éireann, which is the main house of the Irish parliament.

Becoming a Teachta Dála (TD)

Sheehan was first elected as a TD in the 1981 Irish general election. He kept his seat for the Cork South-West area for many years. However, he lost his seat in the 2002 Irish general election. But he didn't give up! He ran again in the 2007 Irish general election and won back his seat. He was 74 years old when he was re-elected.

His Role in Fine Gael

As a TD, P.J. Sheehan served as a deputy spokesperson for Agriculture for his party, Fine Gael. He focused especially on forestry. He worked closely with another Fine Gael TD, Jim O'Keeffe. Together, they were very good at making sure their party won seats in west Cork. They stopped the Fianna Fáil party from gaining more power there.

The "Furthest from the Dáil" Quip

Sheehan's main support came from Goleen, which is a long way from the Dáil in Dublin. Because of this, he used to joke that he was the TD "furthest from the Dáil and nearest to the White House". This was a funny way to describe how far his home was from the capital city.

Retirement and Later Life

P.J. Sheehan decided to retire from politics in the 2011 Irish general election. He had served his country for many years.

Family Life

Sheehan was married to Frances Collins. They had four children together. He passed away on August 10, 2020, at the age of 87. His wife had died just one week before him.

See also

In Spanish: P. J. Sheehan para niños