15 Facts About Paudge Brennan

Patrick Brennan was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who sat for 25 years as a Teachta Dala for the Wicklow constituency, and was briefly a senator.

Paudge Brennan was educated locally at Carnew national school and Carnew vocational school, and joined his father's building firm.

Paudge Brennan first stood for election to Dail Eireann as a Clann na Poblachta candidate in Kildare at the 1948 Irish general election.

Paudge Brennan was a member of Wicklow County Council from 1953 to 1965.

Paudge Brennan ran next as a Fianna Fail candidate in Wicklow at the 1953 by-election caused by the death of his father Thomas Brennan.

Paudge Brennan was elected at the following 1954 general election, and was re-elected at the next four general elections.

Paudge Brennan topped the poll on each occasion, and by virtue of one of the largest votes at the 1957 general election, he managed to secure two seats for Fianna Fail in the constituency, where he was joined by his running mate James O'Toole.

Paudge Brennan was appointed to the same position on 16 November 1966 and on 9 July 1969 by the governments of Jack Lynch.

Paudge Brennan resigned on 8 May 1970, just two days after the resignation of the Minister for Local Government, Kevin Boland, and the sacking of Neil Blaney and Charles Haughey as ministers at the outbreak of the Arms Crisis.

Paudge Brennan abstained in a vote of confidence in Jim Gibbons on 10 November 1971 and was expelled from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party on 17 November 1971.

Paudge Brennan contested the 1973 general election as an independent candidate, but he lost his seat to Fianna Fail's Ciaran Murphy.

Paudge Brennan subsequently rejoined Fianna Fail, and at the 1981 general election was elected again as a TD for Wicklow.

Paudge Brennan lost his seat at the February 1982 election, and was nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad.

Paudge Brennan was re-elected to the Dail at the November 1982 general election, ousting Ciaran Murphy.

Paudge Brennan married Mary Smith in October 1950; and they had three sons and three daughters.