Seamus Mallon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seamus Mallon
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Mallon in 1998
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| deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1 July 1998 – 6 November 2001 Serving with David Trimble
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Mark Durkan |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Newry and Armagh |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Dominic Bradley |
| Member of Parliament for Newry and Armagh |
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| In office 23 January 1986 – 11 April 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Nicholson |
| Succeeded by | Conor Murphy |
| Senator | |
| In office 18 February 1982 – 24 November 1982 |
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| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Seamus Frederick Mallon
17 August 1936 Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 24 January 2020 (aged 83) Markethill, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse |
Gertrude Cush
(died 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education |
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| Alma mater | St Mary's University College |
| Profession | Teacher |
Seamus Frederick Mallon (born 17 August 1936 – died 24 January 2020) was an important Irish politician. He served as the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2001. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1979 to 2001.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Seamus Mallon was born in Markethill, a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. His parents were Jane and Francis Mallon. He came from a family with strong Irish nationalist beliefs.
He went to school at Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School in Newry. He also studied at St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh. After school, he trained to be a teacher at St Mary's University College, Belfast. Like his father, he chose teaching as a career. He became the headmaster of St James's Primary School in Markethill.
Sports and Hobbies
Mallon was very involved in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). He played Gaelic football for the Armagh county team. He played for several club teams, including Middletown and Keady Dwyers.
He also enjoyed amateur drama. He even wrote a play that won a special award across Ireland.
Beginning His Political Journey
Seamus Mallon became active in politics during the 1960s. He joined the civil rights movement, especially in his home area of County Armagh. He first got involved when he tried to help a family get a council house. He saw how people faced unfair treatment because of their religion when trying to get a home.
In 1979, John Hume became the leader of the SDLP. Seamus Mallon then became the deputy leader. He was elected to the first power-sharing Assembly in 1973. He also served in the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975. Between May and December 1982, he was chosen by the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister), Charles Haughey, to be a senator in Seanad Éireann. This is the upper house of the Irish parliament.
Mallon strongly believed in solving problems without violence. He saw firsthand the terrible effects of conflict, which made him even more determined to work for peace.
Serving in Parliament
In 1982, Mallon was elected to the new Northern Ireland Assembly. This assembly was part of a plan to give more power to Northern Ireland. However, he was disqualified because he was also a member of the Irish Seanad. At that time, a person could not serve in both parliaments. This rule was later changed.
In 1986, he was elected to the UK Parliament in Westminster. He became a MP for Newry and Armagh. He held this seat until 2005. He won the seat in a special election after the previous MP, Jim Nicholson, resigned.
Views on Legislation
In 1993, during a debate about anti-terrorism laws, Mallon spoke about how these laws had not brought peace to Northern Ireland. He questioned why, after many years and a lot of money spent, the problems still remained. He believed that a different approach was needed to bring stability.
Working for Peace
Mallon played a key role in the peace process in Northern Ireland. In 1994, he was elected to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. He was part of the SDLP team at the important 'Stormont talks' that started in 1996. These talks led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
The Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement was a major step towards peace. It led to the creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly. This assembly was elected in June 1998. It also set up a power-sharing government called the Northern Ireland Executive. Mallon was elected as a member for Newry and Armagh. In December 1999, he became the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. He worked alongside Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble.
Mallon always opposed violence and supported changes to the police force in Northern Ireland.
Later Life and Retirement
Seamus Mallon retired from the leadership of the SDLP in 2001. Mark Durkan took over his role as Deputy First Minister.
Mallon did not run for his seat in the Stormont Assembly in the 2003 elections. He also stepped down from his Westminster seat in the 2005 UK general election. Conor Murphy of Sinn Féin won the seat that Mallon had held.
In 2018, Mallon was given the Freedom of Drogheda, a special honour. His autobiography, A Shared Home Place, was published in 2019. In his retirement, he spent a lot of time in County Donegal, where his mother was from.
Personal Life
During his time in politics, Mallon lived in his hometown of Markethill. His house had special windows for safety.
He had some health challenges throughout his life. His wife, Gertrude, passed away in October 2016. They had one daughter, Órla, who is married and has a child.
Mallon had moved to his second home in County Donegal for a while. However, when his wife's health declined, he moved back to Markethill to care for her. He continued to live there after her death.
Seamus Mallon passed away at his home in Markethill on 24 January 2020, at the age of 83. He had been receiving treatment for cancer. Many people, including former US President Bill Clinton, paid tribute to Mallon. They remembered him as a "man of peace" and someone who believed in a shared future for everyone.
Images for kids
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Mallon in 1998
