Paul Connaughton, Snr

Who is Paul Connaughton, Snr?

Paul Connaughton, Snr is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Galway East constituency from 1981 to 2011, and was a Senator from 1977 to 1981.

Connaughton was born in Mountbellew, County Galway. He was educated at St. Jarlath's Vocational School, Mountbellew, and Mountbellew Agricultural College where he did an IMI Management Course. Connaughton first became involved in politics in 1979 when he became a member of Galway County Council. He served on that authority on two occasions between 1979 and 1985, and again from 1991 to 2003.

He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1975 Galway North–East by-election and the 1977 general election. He was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel in 1977. Connaughton was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Galway East, and was returned at every subsequent election until his retirement in 2011. Between 1982 and 1987 Fine Gael were in government and Connaughton served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with special responsibility for Land Structure and Development.