Liam Burke

Who was Liam Burke?

Liam Burke was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cork North–Central constituency. Burke was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election for Cork City North–West. After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the 1977 general election in the new Cork City constituency, but lost his seat. He was returned to the 21st Dáil at a by-election on 7 November 1979 in the same constituency, following the death of the Labour Party TD Patrick Kerrigan. That by-election win contributed to the decision of then Taoiseach Jack Lynch to resign in December 1979.

Burke lost his seat for the second time at the 1989 general election but regained it at the 1992 general election. He then retained his seat until retiring aged 74 at the 2002 general election. At that time he and Harry Blaney shared the distinction of being the oldest serving TDs.

He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork, and University College Cork. He was Lord Mayor of Cork from 1984 to 1985.

Burke died on 21 August 2005, aged 77.

His sister, Mary Woods, is an elected public representative for Fine Gael on the Town Council for Midleton, County Cork since 1985. His uncle Tadhg Manley was a Fine Gael TD from 1954 tp 1961. He was a cousin of Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher.