Toddy O'Sullivan
Toddy O'Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State | |
| 1994–1997 | Tourism and Trade |
| 1986–1987 | Environment |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 1987 – June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Cork South-Central |
| In office June 1981 – February 1987 | |
| Constituency | Cork North-Central |
| Lord Mayor of Cork | |
| In office 1980–1981 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 November 1934 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 12 December 2021 (aged 87) Cork, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Esther Chandley[1] |
| Children | 3 |
Toddy O'Sullivan (8 November 1934 – 12 December 2021) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served for sixteen years as a Teachta Dála (TD) for constituencies in Cork, and for five years as a junior minister.[2] He also served as Lord Mayor of Cork from 1980 to 1981.
Early life
[edit]A native of the Barrack Street area in the south inner-city area of Cork, O'Sullivan was educated at Greenmount National School before becoming a postal clerk.[2]
Political career
[edit]A member of Cork City Council, O'Sullivan was Lord Mayor of Cork for the 1980 to 1981 term.[3] O'Sullivan first stood as a candidate for Dáil Éireann at the by-election on 7 November 1979 in the Cork City constituency, following the death of Labour TD Patrick Kerrigan. The by-election was won by Fine Gael's Liam Burke, but O'Sullivan was successful at his next attempt, when he topped the poll at the 1981 general election in the new constituency of Cork North-Central.[4]
He was re-elected at the next five general elections, moving in 1987 to Cork South-Central, before losing his seat at the 1997 general election. He stood again at the by-election on 23 October 1998 in Cork South-Central following the death of Fine Gael TD Hugh Coveney, but the seat was won by Coveney's son Simon Coveney.
Ministerial career
[edit]In February 1986 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Environment. Along with the other Labour ministers, he resigned on 20 January 1987 in protest at proposed cuts in health spending, bringing about the coalition's collapse.
Six years later, after the 1992 general election led to a coalition with Fianna Fáil, O'Sullivan became Chairman of the Dáil's Enterprise and Economic Strategy Committee. After the collapse of that government and its replacement with the Fine Gael–Labour Party–Democratic Left Rainbow Coalition, Taoiseach John Bruton appointed him in December 1994 as Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Trade, a position he held until Fianna Fáil returned to power at the 1997 general election.[4]
Death
[edit]O'Sullivan died on 12 December 2021, at the age of 87.[5][6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ "The death has occurred of Toddy O'Sullivan". RIP.ie. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Toddy O'Sullivan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Previous Mayors of Cork". Cork City Council. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Toddy O'Sullivan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ English, Eoin; Mcglynn, Michelle (12 December 2021). "'Cork has lost a giant of politics and community': Toddy O'Sullivan dies aged 87". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "Former Lord Mayor of Cork Toddy O' Sullivan dies aged 87". Cork's 96FM. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "President leads tributes to former Cork Lord Mayor Toddy O'Sullivan". RTÉ News. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.