1. Kevin Boland was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who served as Leader of Aontacht Eireann from 1971 to 1976, Minister for Social Welfare from 1961 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970, Minister for Local Government from 1966 to 1970 and Minister for Defence from 1957 to 1961.
Kevin Boland served as a Teachta Dala from 1957 to 1970.
Kevin Boland is one of eight TDs appointed as a Minister at the beginning of their first term in the Dail.
Kevin Boland was the son of Gerald Boland, a founder-member of Fianna Fail, and the nephew of Harry Boland.
The Defence portfolio was largely considered a safe and uncontroversial position, so Kevin Boland made only a small impact.
Kevin Boland frequently conducted his governmental business in Irish, which he was very good at; he had won awards for it in school.
Kevin Boland remained there until the retirement in 1966 of the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, when Fianna Fail faced the first leadership contest in its history.
Kevin Boland was then appointed Minister for Local Government which post he held until he left government in 1970.
Kevin Boland supported him in his campaign, as both men hailed from the republican and left wing of the party.
Kevin Boland was appointed as Minister for Local Government in the new government.
On one occasion Kevin Boland was said to have been so angry that he resigned not only his cabinet position but his Dail seat and went home to his farm in County Dublin to make hay.
Kevin Boland resigned in solidarity with them and in protest about the government's position on the North.
Just before Jack Lynch's speech Kevin Boland stormed a nearby podium, interrupting Patrick Hillery in the middle of his speech.
Kevin Boland founded his own political party, Aontacht Eireann in 1971.
Kevin Boland remained an outspoken critic of the Republic's Northern Ireland policy, particularly the Sunningdale Agreement.
Kevin Boland made one last attempt to reclaim a Dail seat, standing unsuccessfully in the Dublin South-West constituency at the 1981 general election.