Jerry Cowley

Jerry Cowley
Cowley speaking at a Shell to Sea protest.
Teachta Dála
In office May 2002 – May 2007
Constituency	Mayo
Personal details
Born	11 November 1952 (1952-11-11) (age 59) County Mayo, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Labour Party
Other political affiliations	Independent (until 2010)
Spouse(s)	Teresa Staunton
Children	5
Website	jerrycowley.blogspot.com

Jerry Cowley (born 11 November 1952) is an Irish barrister, medical doctor and politician.^[1]

Originally from Ballina, he is now resident in Mulranny, County Mayo. He was an Independent Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency after being elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election.^[2] He served until losing his seat at the 2007 general election.

He joined the Technical Group established to ensure Dáil speaking time for the Independent TDs.

Cowley was the only Mayo TD who supported the Shell to Sea campaign left after Michael Ring did a U-turn on the issue. Shell to Sea oppose the plans of Royal Dutch Shell to construct a land-based refinery for the Corrib Gas Field at Bellanaboy in his constituency, and Cowley openly acknowledged that his stance would cost him more votes than it would gain him. During his time as TD he accused the Garda Síochána of bugging him and other prominent Shell to Sea campaigners, and is pursuing them on the matter.

Cowley competes annually in the yawl races off Achill Island. He is a former Mayo Person of the Year and Rehab People of the Year Awards winner.

In April 2010, he joined the Labour Party. He was an unsuccessful candidate for that party in the Mayo constituency at the 2011 general election.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Dr. Jerry Cowley". Oireachtas Members Database. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=29&MemberID=1772&ConstID=141. Retrieved 16 April 2010. 
2. ^ "Jerry Cowley". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4204. Retrieved 16 April 2010. 
3. ^ "Jerry Cowley joins Labour Party". RTÉ News. 16 April 2010. http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0416/labour.html. Retrieved 16 April 2010. 

External links

• Jerry Cowley's official website

Oireachtas
Preceded by Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)	Independent Teachta Dála for Mayo 2002–2007	Succeeded by John O'Mahony (Fine Gael)

Persondata
Name	Cowley, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	11 November 1952
Place of birth	County Mayo, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death