Jerry Cronin

Who was Jerry Cronin?

Jeremiah "Jerry" Cronin was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1965 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork North–East constituency. Cronin was appointed to the Irish Government on one occasion, serving as Minister for Defence from 1970 to 1973 under Taoiseach Jack Lynch. Cronin retired from domestic politics at the 1981 general election, having been elected to the European Parliament for a five-year term in 1979.

Jerry Cronin was born in Currabeha, Fermoy, County Cork, the son of Alice and Sean Cronin. His uncle, Arthur Mulcahy, was a member of the Old IRA, and wa shot by British forces during the Irish War of Independence on the night of 22 March 1921. Jerry Cronin died on 19 October 1990 after a battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was married to Shelia Cronin, they lived in Mallow, County Cork and had six children.