- Seán Flanagan
Seán Flanagan (26 January 1922 – 5 February 1993) was a senior
Fianna Fáil politician andGaelic football er inIreland . He served underTaoiseach Jack Lynch as Minister for Health (1966-1969) and Minister for Lands (1969-1973).Seán Flanagan was born in Aughnamore,
Ballyhaunis ,County Mayo in 1922. He was educated locally, then later at St. Jarlath’s College inTuam ,County Galway , where he showed enthusiasm for sport. He won twoConnacht championship medals with the college in 1939 and in 1940. He later studied at Clonliffe College inDublin and then enrolled inUniversity College Dublin where he studied law and qualified as a solicitor.Flanagan also played senior
Gaelic football for Mayo. He captained the All-Ireland final winning sides of 1950 and 1951 and won fiveConnacht senior championship medals in all. He also won two National Football League titles in 1949 and 1954. While still a footballer, Flanagan entered into a career in politics. He came from a Fianna Fáil family and was recruited into the party in East Mayo. He was elected a Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo East at the 1951 General Election. He would retain his seat at each subsequent election until he lost his seat in 1977.Flanagan rose rapidly through the party ranks and was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary under
Taoiseach Seán Lemass in 1959, before becoming GovernmentChief Whip in 1961. In the Fianna Fáil leadership election in 1966 Flanagan supportedJack Lynch . When Lynch became Taoiseach Flanagan was promoted to the Cabinet as Minister for Health. Three years later in 1969 he became Minister for Lands. Flanagan lost his seat at the 1977 General Election. He effectively retired from domestic politics; however, he was elected to theEuropean Parliament in the first direct elections in 1979. He was re-elected in 1984 and retired from politics in 1989.Seán Flanagan died on 4 February 1993, at the age of 71. In 2000 he was honoured by the
Gaelic Athletic Association by being named on their Gaelic Football Team of the Millennium.ee also
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List of people on stamps of Ireland External links
* [http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2439 Séan Flanagan's electoral history] (ElectionsIreland.org)
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