14 Facts About Mick Lanigan

Michael Lanigan was born on 30 January 1938 and is a retired Irish company director and Fianna Fail politician from County Kilkenny.

Mick Lanigan was a senator from 1977 to 2002, and was noted in the Seanad for his interest in foreign affairs, particularly humanitarian issues and the Palestinian cause.

Mick Lanigan was re-elected on the Industrial and Commercial Panel to each successive Seanad until his defeat at the 1989 elections, when he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, to the 19th Seanad.

Mick Lanigan was re-elected on the Industrial and Commercial Panel in 1993 to the 20th and in 1997 to the 21st Seanad.

Mick Lanigan retired at the 2002 election to the 22nd Seanad.

Mick Lanigan was leader of the opposition Fianna Fail group in the 17th Seanad, and was Leader of the Seanad in the 18th Seanad.

Mick Lanigan was reappointed as Leader in the 19th Seanad in 1989, but resigned in May 1990 after the government lost a series of votes when no Fianna Fail senators were present in the chamber.

Mick Lanigan later served as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mick Lanigan was noted as a supporter of an independent Palestinian state.

The Order, which is the highest honour bestowed on behalf of the Palestinian people, was made at a ceremony in Ramallah in which Arafat commended Mick Lanigan for having supported the Palestinian cause "when it was not popular to do so".

Mick Lanigan continues to be involved with the Palestinian cause, in his capacity as chairman of Irish Medical Aid for Palestine.

Mick Lanigan's son, called Mick, was a member of Kilkenny Borough Council and Kilkenny County Council from 1999 to 2009.

Mick Lanigan was successful in the 100 metre hurdles at the Catholic International Student Games, before going on to win further national and international honours on the track.

Mick Lanigan was one of the founding members of the Kilkenny City Harriers athletics club in 1953.