Joe Sheridan

Joseph Michael Sheridan (27 November 1914 – 30 September 2000) was an Irish politician, originally with Fine Gael but for most of his career an independent.[1][2]

Not to be confused with Joe Sheridan (Gaelic footballer).

Sheridan came from Drumlish in County Longford, and had three brothers and two sisters.[3] He moved to Westmeath, first to Kilbeggan and then to Mullingar.[1] An auctioneer and farmer by profession,[2] he was elected to Westmeath county council,[1] and then to Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel at a by-election on 14 May 1956.[2] He was re-elected at the 1957 Seanad election, this time on the Labour Panel.[2] He was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1961 general election.[2] In spite of his Fine Gael background, he supported the minority Fianna Fáil government.[1] He was re-elected at the 1965, 1969, 1973 and 1977 general elections. He concentrated on local constituency needs, with the electoral slogan "Vote for Joe, the Man you Know."[1][4] He retired at the 1981 general election.[5]

Sheridan had five sons and four daughters,[1] of whom Kathy Sheridan is a journalist with The Irish Times.[6]

References

1. "Death of Member and Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy, Vol. 164 No. 1". Oireachtas. 11 October 2000. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
2. "Joseph Sheridan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
3. "Longford priest dies following crash". Longford Leader. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
4. McGuire, Tom (2007). The Election book. O'Brien. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-84717-031-6.
5. "Joseph Sheridan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
6. "Book gives a new voice to Longford women". Longford Leader. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2011.