Irish internationals who became politicians.

Snickers Man

There is a short but significant list of Irish international players who went on to have political careers, at various levels. Among the ones I know were:

Dick Spring, full back, three caps in 1979. Became a Labour TD and served as Foreign Minister and Tanaiste.

Jim Glennon, Lock. Seven caps between 1980 and 1987. Became a Fianna Fail TD

Davy Tweed, Lock. Won four caps in 1995. Was a councillor for the DUP but eventually left them when he thought they were going soft!

Trevor Ringland, Wing. 34 caps between 1981 and 1988. Building a reputation for himself in the Ulster Unionist Party. Campaigned to have God Save the Queen played when the Irish team plays at Ravenhill.


Does anyone know of any other internationals who became prominent in politics? Especially if there was ever any who became TDs for Fine Gael or one of the other parties? I would be interested.

Robbo

Do Tony O'Reilly's contributions count? In particular, I'm thinking of a certain front page editorial for the 1997 general election...

Sandeman

If I am not mistaken I think Tyrone Howe (wing, Ulster, Ireland , Lions) became a UUP councillor when he retired 4 or 5 years ago, not too sure if he is still active in politics

murphym7

Snickers Man wrote: »

There is a short but significant list of Irish international players who went on to have political careers, at various levels. Among the ones I know were:

Dick Spring, full back, three caps in 1979. Became a Labour TD and served as Foreign Minister and Tanaiste.

Jim Glennon, Lock. Seven caps between 1980 and 1987. Became a Fianna Fail TD

Davy Tweed, Lock. Won four caps in 1995. Was a councillor for the DUP but eventually left them when he thought they were going soft!

Trevor Ringland, Wing. 34 caps between 1981 and 1988. Building a reputation for himself in the Ulster Unionist Party. Campaigned to have God Save the Queen played when the Irish team plays at Ravenhill.


Does anyone know of any other internationals who became prominent in politics? Especially if there was ever any who became TDs for Fine Gael or one of the other parties? I would be interested.

Never knew about Dick Spring - who let that lefty into a club house!!:D (joking)

Spiritoftheseventies

Snickers Man wrote: »

.

Does anyone know of any other internationals who became prominent in politics? Especially if there was ever any who became TDs for Fine Gael or one of the other parties? I would be interested.

just curious but does it matter what party were involved. Generally speaking there seems to more GAA involvement in politics in terms of former players.

Digifriendly

Sandeman wrote: »

If I am not mistaken I think Tyrone Howe (wing, Ulster, Ireland , Lions) became a UUP councillor when he retired 4 or 5 years ago, not too sure if he is still active in politics

Correct. He served 2 years on Banbridge council before resigning in 2007 due to work commitments. Now a summariser on Sky sports.

Snickers Man

Fake Locke wrote: »

just curious but does it matter what party were involved. Generally speaking there seems to more GAA involvement in politics in terms of former players.

I'm not making judgements. I'm just curious.

The great thing about rugby is that it is part of its culture that people of any political hue may play but that they park their politics at the dressing room door. Having said which, you would think that the natural political home of many southern Irish rugby people would be Fine Gael but I can't think of any internationals who became Fine Gael politicians.

Does anyone know of a Fine Gael politician/TD who was ever capped for Ireland?

Amazotheamazing

Gerry "Ginger" McLoughlin, Labour councillor in Limerick city, Irish legend.

De Valera played for Munster, afaik. Sure it's the same old story, usual politics kept him out of the side...

andrewdcs

Yeah, de Valera was at Blackrock and Rockwell so had the schooling for it.

No sure about other past politicos but Dennis Hickie is quite politically active, wouldn't surprise me to see him stand in the future.
I know my mother would give him 1st preference



(sorry Da!)

Spiritoftheseventies

Snickers Man wrote: »

I'm not making judgements. I'm just curious.

The great thing about rugby is that it is part of its culture that people of any political hue may play but that they park their politics at the dressing room door. Having said which, you would think that the natural political home of many southern Irish rugby people would be Fine Gael but I can't think of any internationals who became Fine Gael politicians.

Does anyone know of a Fine Gael politician/TD who was ever capped for Ireland?

I still don't get the connection with Rugby and Fine Gael. If Im right from what I heard the other day FG are tied with the farming class. Think this is going off topic. Fine if you want to know about Politicians who played rugby but don't narrow it by tying it down to one part.

Snickers Man

No need to get so defensive. I was just wondering whether there are any FG politicians to complete the set, or if not to complete it to at least flesh it out a bit.

We've got Labour, Fianna Fail and a few shades of Unionist. I'm guessing there are not too many Sinn Feiners in the rugby camp. And there are not too many Greens period.

But I would also love to hear of any TDs from smaller or extinct parties (eg Clann na Talmhan, Clann na Poblachta, Progressive Democrats etc) who played rugby for Ireland, if indeed there are any.

Just shamelessly fishing in the knowledge pool that is the totality of Boards users.

durkadurka

murphym7 wrote: »

Never knew about Dick Spring - who let that lefty into a club house!!:D (joking)

Didn't spring famously drop a pass for a certain try and blow a triple crown or something?

The charlie haughey character in scrap saturday called him butterfingers....

Spiritoftheseventies

durkadurka wrote: »

Didn't spring famously drop a pass for a certain try and blow a triple crown or something?

The charlie haughey character in scrap saturday called him butterfingers....

Yeah the joke in Dail Eireann years after that was that Dick Spring was always "dropping the ball" on things