Vincent P. Martin

Vincent Peter Martin[2] (born 1968) is an Irish member of the Green Party, and a Senator since June 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[3] Previously he has been a local county councillor in both Kildare and his native Monaghan.[4]

This article is about the Irish Green Party Politican. For the Australian politician, see Vince Martin (politician).

Senator

Vincent P. Martin
Martin in 2020
Senator
Assumed office
29 June 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Monaghan County Councillor
In office
May 2004 – May 2009
ConstituencyMonaghan Town
Kildare County Councillor
In office
24 May 2019 – 27 June 2020
ConstituencyNaas
Personal details
Born1968 (age 51–52)
Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyGreen Party (since 2006)
Other political
affiliations		Fianna Fáil c. 1999
Spouse(s)Hilda Martin
RelationsCatherine Martin (Sister)
Francis Noel Duffy (Brother-in-law)
Children2
ResidenceNaas
Alma materSt Macartan's College
University College Dublin
Maynooth University
King's Inns[1]
Websitegreenparty.ie/people/vincent-p-martin

Early life

Martin was born in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland.[5] The P in his name is a reference to his granduncle Vincent "Pepper" Martin, a Brooklyn-based professional boxer who once made an appearance on the front cover of The Ring, one of the sports' most well-known magazines.[6] His sister is Catherine Martin, now deputy leader of the Green Party, whom Vincent recruited in. Previous to politics, Martin was a barrister by profession.[7] He is married to Hilda, with whom he has two sons.[8]

Political career

Martin started his political career in 1999 as a Town Councillor for Carrickmacross on Monaghan County Council. He later became a County Councillor in 2004 as an Independent, however previous to this some sources have stated he was a member of Fianna Fáil.[9][10] He served in local politics for 10 years and he was noted as one of the few representatives at that time who advocated for Environmentalism and stood firm on decisions about planning permission. In 2006 this prompted then Green Party leader John Gormley to recruit Martin into the Greens.[8] In 2009 Martin stepped away from local politics to concentrate on being a barrister and to spend time with his newlywed wife. Upon his resignation, his fellow councillors lauded Martin as a "gentlemen" who never spoke out on anything "unless it was in a dignified manner". The fact that he came into politics with no family connections was also praised.[7] He was expected to name fellow local green party member Darcy Lonergan as his replacement, but as Longeran was away studying in the United States,[7] Vincent instead co-opted his sister Catherine into the position.[10] Catherine vacated her seat upon the death of the Martins' mother and co-opted it to the returning Lonergan.[11]

Martin remained out of politics for a decade. In that time he moved to Naas in County Kildare. In 2019 he returned to politics, topping the poll in the Naas constituency in the 2019 Kildare County Council election.[8]

In the 2020 Irish general election, he ran as a candidate in Kildare North, but was not elected.[12] In June 2020 Vincent became a senator upon the Green Party entering into government.[13]

References
  1. "Northern Standard » Blog Archive » CARRICK BARRISTER IS MADE SENIOR COUNSEL".
  2. "Calls to the Bar: Michaelmas Term" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. "Vincent P. Martin". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. "Meet your new Green Councillors". independent.
  5. O'Meara, Paul (6 February 2020). "Vincent P Martin is anything but green on the campaign trail". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. O'Meara, Paul (6 February 2020). "Vincent P Martin is anything but green on the campaign trail". Retrieved 28 June 2020. The P in his name is a reference to his granduncle Vincent (Pepper) Martin, a US-based pro boxer who once figured on the front cover of Ring, the sport’s prestigious magazine
  7. "Shock as Vincent P. Martin resigns". 9 November 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  8. Sheahan, Fionnán (28 January 2020). "The Green Martin machine aiming to outdo Healy-Raes". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. "Versatile Vincent". The Phoenix. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  10. "GREEN BLUESHIRT ALLIANCE". The Phoenix. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. "Young Bloods – Catherine Martin". The Phoenix. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  12. Horgan-Jones, Jack (18 January 2020). "Election 2020: Kildare North constituency profile". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020. Martin is a brother to Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin, and topped the poll in Naas while two other Greens were elected in Maynooth and Celbridge.
  13. Kelly, Fiach (27 June 2020). "Nine of the 11 Taoiseach's appointees to the Seanad are women". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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