- William Magennis
William Magennis (18 May 1867 – 30 March 1946) was an Irish politician and university professor. Born in
Belfast , he was educated atBelvedere College , Dublin, andUniversity College Dublin . In 1893 he was called to the Bar. He was professor of philosophy at Carysfort College and he held the Chair ofMetaphysics at University College Dublin.cite web
url=http://www.pgil-eirdata.org/html/pgil_datasets/authors/m/Magennis,W/life.htm
title=William Magennis – Life
work=Princess Grace Irish Library
accessdate=2008-08-09]Magennis was first elected to
Dáil Éireann as an independentTeachta Dála (TD) for the National University of Ireland constituency in the 1922 general election. He was elected as aCumann na nGaedhael TD for the same constituency at the 1923 general election.In 1926, he was one of the founders of a new political party called
Clann Éireann . The party advocated the abolition of the Oath of Allegiance to the British King, called for lower taxes and less legislation and was critical of the report of the Boundary Commission. The party attracted little support and it did not win any seats at the June 1927 general election, including the loss of Magennis' seat. He wasnominated by the Taoiseach to the2nd Seanad in 1938 and served as an independent member until his death in 1946.Speaking during the debate of the 1923 Censorship of Films Act, [cite web
url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1923/en/act/pub/0023/index.html
title=Censorship of Films Act, 1923
publisher=Irish Statute Book
accessdate=2008-08-09] which was one of the first pieces of significant legislation to be passed by theIrish Free State . Magennis declared: "Purity of mind and sanity of outlook upon life were long ago regarded as characteristic of our people. The loose views and the vile lowering of values that belong to other races and other peoples were being forced upon our people through the popularity of the cinematograph". [cite news
url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/0723/1216740956590.html
title=Film censor
date=2008-07-23
work=The Irish Times
accessdate=2008-08-09]References
*Oireachtas-database|1=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=3&MemberID=1512&ConstID=156
External links
* [http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=1413 William Magennis's electoral history] (ElectionsIreland.org)
* [http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/biogsM.htm William Magennis biography] (Dictionary of Ulster Biography)
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