28 Facts About Michael O'Kennedy

Michael O'Kennedy was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who served in a range of cabinet positions, including Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Finance and Irish European Commissioner.

Michael O'Kennedy served as a Teachta Dala for the Tipperary North constituency and was a member of Seanad Eireann.

Michael O'Kennedy was educated locally at St Mary's National School before later attending St Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare.

Michael O'Kennedy taught in Switzerland for a while before resuming his legal studies; he was called to the Bar in 1961.

Michael O'Kennedy joined Fianna Fail in 1957 and became an active party member.

Michael O'Kennedy contested the 1965 general election in Tipperary North; however, he narrowly failed to win a seat.

Michael O'Kennedy was elected to the 11th Seanad, where he became the party spokesperson on various issues, including finance and education.

Michael O'Kennedy contested the 1969 general election and was successful in securing a seat in Dail Eireann.

Michael O'Kennedy remained on the backbenches until 1970 when the Arms Crisis resulted in a major reshuffle at cabinet and junior ministerial levels.

In December 1972, a cabinet reshuffle by Taoiseach Jack Lynch saw Michael O'Kennedy join the cabinet as minister without portfolio.

Immediately after Fianna Fail's loss of power, Michael O'Kennedy was appointed Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.

Michael O'Kennedy retained the same brief in a 1975 front bench reshuffle.

Michael O'Kennedy was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in Jack Lynch's new cabinet.

Michael O'Kennedy's loyalty was rewarded when he was appointed Minister for Finance in the new government.

Michael O'Kennedy took over as European Commissioner for Personnel, Administration and the Statistics Office and was disappointed not to be made vice-president in the Thorn Commission.

Michael O'Kennedy was made a delegate to the president.

Michael O'Kennedy quickly grew bored of the mundane day-to-day work as a commissioner and missed the cut-and-thrust nature of Irish politics, which was going through a volatile period.

Michael O'Kennedy was elected for Tipperary North and resigned as a European commissioner.

Michael O'Kennedy's return was seen as an attempt to assert his claim to the future leadership of Fianna Fail, something that had been a contentious issue under Haughey and his failure to secure an overall majority in two elections.

Fianna Fail returned to power with the help of several Independent TDs, and Michael O'Kennedy demanded a senior government position.

Desmond O'Malley was seen as the clear front-runner to succeed Haughey; however, Michael O'Kennedy's name was mentioned alongside other party stalwarts like Gerry Collins and Brian Lenihan.

Michael O'Kennedy supported the incumbent leader throughout the heave and took over as Minister for Labour in the subsequent reshuffle.

Once again, this was viewed as a demotion; however, Michael O'Kennedy viewed his role as one of the most important in the cabinet, considering the high unemployment rate.

Michael O'Kennedy lost his seat at the 1992 general election, in what turned out to be a disaster for Fianna Fail.

Michael O'Kennedy subsequently secured election to Seanad Eireann for the second time in his career.

Michael O'Kennedy was re-elected to the Dail at the 1997 general election.

Michael O'Kennedy sought the Fianna Fail nomination in the 1997 presidential election, but received only 21 votes out of a total of 112, as Mary McAleese became the party's nominee and eventual victor of the election.

Michael O'Kennedy returned to work as a barrister and subsequently became a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.