Paddy Keaveney

Who was Paddy Keaveney?

Patrick "Paddy" Keaveney was an Cooperative manager from County Donegal and a politician of the Independent Fianna Fáil party, who was a Teachta Dála for one year.

He was elected to the 20th Dáil as TD for Donegal North–East at a by-election in June 1976 caused by the death of Fianna Fáil TD Liam Cunningham. His surprise victory gave Independent Fianna Fáil two out of the three seats in Donegal North-East, but the constituency was abolished for the 1977 general election, when he was defeated in the new Donegal constituency. He did not stand again.

Keaveney was later elected to Donegal County Council, and after his death in 1995, his daughter Cecilia was co-opted to take his place as councillor. The following year, she was elected to Dáil Éireann as the Fianna Fáil candidate in a by-election following the death of Independent Fianna Fáil's founder Neil Blaney.