Desmond A Hanafin was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who served for over 30 years as a member of Seanad Eireann.
15 Facts About Des Hanafin
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Des Hanafin opposed social liberalisation, particularly the legalisation of abortion, divorce and same-sex marriage, and was one of the founders of the anti-abortion advocacy group, Pro Life Campaign.
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Mary Des Hanafin is a former Fianna Fail TD and government minister, and John Des Hanafin is a former Fianna Fail senator.
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Des Hanafin operated the Anner Hotel, located in Thurles during the 1960s.
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Subsequently, Des Hanafin was a director of the Transinternational Oil Company.
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In 1953, Des Hanafin sought to be co-opted to fill the vacancy on North Tipperary County Council created by the death of his father, John Des Hanafin.
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Des Hanafin was elected a member of North Tipperary County Council in 1955, polling 934 first preference votes.
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Des Hanafin was re-elected to North Tipperary County Council in 1960, polling 797 first preference votes.
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Des Hanafin was first elected to Seanad Eireann in 1969 and retained his seat until the 1993 Seanad election at which he lost his seat by one vote.
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Des Hanafin regained his seat in the 1997 elections, and in 2002 announced his retirement from politics.
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Des Hanafin unsuccessfully contested the 1977 and 1981 Dail elections for the Tipperary North constituency.
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Des Hanafin was a chief fundraiser of the Fianna Fail party for many years.
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Des Hanafin opposed the legalisation of divorce, which was introduced in 1995, and attempted to overturn the referendum result in the Supreme Court, but was refused by the court.
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An opponent of abortion, Des Hanafin was one of the promoters of the constitutional amendment that enshrined the legal ban on abortion in the Constitution of Ireland.
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Des Hanafin was co-founder, chairman and later honorary president of the Pro Life Campaign.