14 Facts About Paschal Mooney

Paschal Canice Mooney was born on 14 October 1947 and is an Irish Fianna Fail politician and a former member of Seanad Eireann.

Paschal Mooney retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it at the 2007 election to the 23rd Seanad.

Paschal Mooney was re-elected to Seanad Eireann on the Agricultural Panel in a Seanad by-election on 19 January 2010.

Paschal Mooney's father, Joe, was a member of the Seanad and Leitrim County Council while his mother Eva Mooney served as a member of Leitrim County Council.

Paschal Mooney is the third generation of his family to contribute to public service locally and nationally as his grandfather, Andrew Mooney, served as a member of Leitrim County Council from 1920 to 1943.

Paschal Mooney was in the forefront of the 'Shot at Dawn' campaign led in the British House of Commons by Andrew MacKinlay MP and in the House of Lords by Alf Dubs seeking a pardon for over 300 soldiers of World War I shot in questionable circumstances following Field courts-martial.

Paschal Mooney married Sheila Baldrey; and the couple have five children.

Paschal Mooney was first elected to the Seanad in 1987, on the Cultural and Educational Panel as a nominee of the Library Association of Ireland.

Paschal Mooney retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it in the 2007 election.

Paschal Mooney was a member of Leitrim County Council from 1991 to 1999.

Paschal Mooney was selected as running mate to Sean O Neachtain as a Fianna Fail candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the North-West constituency.

On 19 January 2010, Paschal Mooney was elected on the first count in a Seanad by-election caused by the death of Senator Peter Callanan in October 2009.

Paschal Mooney was the Fianna Fail Seanad spokesperson on Social Protection.

Paschal Mooney was a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agricultural and the Joint Committee on Transport, Energy and Communications.