John Mannion, Jnr

Who was John Mannion, Jnr?

John Martin Mannion was an Irish Fine Gael politician from Clifden, County Galway. He was a Teachta Dála for four years and a senator for 10 years.

A farmer, auctioneer and businessman before entering politics, Mannion was a long-serving member of Galway County Council, and of the Western Health Board. He was elected in 1969 to the 12th Seanad by the Agricultural Panel, succeeding his father John Mannion, Snr who had first been elected to the Seanad in 1954.

Like his father before him, Mannion found Connemara a difficult base from which seek election to the Dáil. The Galway West constituency includes the city of Galway and the western part of the county, and Fine Gael support is stronger in the city than in Connemara. His father had won a seat in Dáil Éireann on his first attempt but was not re-elected in four further attempts. Mannion junior stood unsuccessfully for the Dáil at the 1973 general election, but in the subsequent Seanad election he was returned to the 13th Seanad.