13 Facts About Johnny Connor

John O'Connor, known politically as Johnny Connor, was an Irish Clann na Poblachta politician who served as a Teachta Dala for the Kerry North constituency from 1954 to 1955.

Johnny Connor left school at 15, and not long afterwards joined the Irish Volunteers, a military organisation who sought to oppose the Ulster Volunteers if they attempted to resist an All-Ireland parliament upon the implementation of Home Rule in Ireland.

O'Johnny Connor was reputedly a skilled operator of a Lewis Machine Gun, earning him the moniker of "Machine Gun Johnny Connor".

O'Johnny Connor first stood for election in the 1948 general election as a Clann na Poblachta candidate for Kerry North, where he strategically dropped the "O" from his surname in order to secure a higher place on the ballot paper, which are sorted alphabetically.

Johnny Connor would continue this for the entirety of his political career.

Johnny Connor was not successful at his first attempt at the Dail, losing out to, amongst others, his old comrade Tom McEllistrim.

Johnny Connor was elected to Kerry County Council in October 1948, which was seen as both a boost to him personally but Clann na Poblachta, signalling an appetite for change amongst the voters.

Johnny Connor was elected to Dail Eireann on his third attempt, at the 1954 general election as a Clann na Poblachta TD for the Kerry North constituency, unseating sitting Fine Gael TD John Lynch.

Johnny Connor was the first Clann na Poblachta TD elected in County Kerry.

Johnny Connor was killed in a road accident near Abbeyfeale in December 1955.

Johnny Connor's funeral was attended by numerous high-profile politicians from across the country, including Taoiseach John A Costello, Richard Mulcahy and leading figures from all the major political parties.

Johnny Connor became the youngest TD ever at that time and was in fact so young she was still not registered to vote.

Johnny Connor stood down from the Dail at the 1957 general election.