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Joseph Brennan
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office 5 July 1977 – 13 July 1980
Deputy	Seán Browne
Preceded by	Seán Treacy
Succeeded by	Pádraig Faulkner
Minister for Social Welfare
In office 6 May 1970 – 14 March 1973
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Brendan Corish
In office 16 November 1966 – 2 July 1969
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Kevin Boland
Minister for Labour
In office 2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Patrick Hillery
Succeeded by	Michael O'Leary
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office 21 April 1965 – 10 November 1966
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Michael Hilliard
Succeeded by	Erskine H. Childers
Parliamentary Secretary
1961–1965	Government Chief Whip
1961–1965	Defence
1959–1961	Finance
Teachta Dála
In office June 1977 – 13 July 1980
Constituency	Donegal
In office June 1969 – June 1977
Constituency	Donegal–Leitrim
In office October 1961 – June 1969
Constituency	Donegal South-West
In office May 1951 – October 1961
Constituency	Donegal West
Personal details
Born	(1913-02-14)14 February 1913 Dunkineely, County Donegal, Ireland
Died	13 July 1980(1980-07-13) (aged 67) Bruckless, County Donegal, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Margaret McDevitt ​(m. 1942)​
Children	5

Joseph Peter Brennan (14 February 1913 – 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1977 to 1980, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1973 to 1977, Minister for Social Welfare from 1970 to 1973 and 1966 to 1969, Minister for Labour from 1969 to 1973, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1965 to 1966, and a Parliamentary Secretary from 1959 to 1965. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1951 to 1980.

Early and personal life

He was born in Dunkineely, County Donegal, the son of farmer Francis Brennan and Hannah Carr. He was educated locally and developed great skill at Gaelic football, playing for his county team.

He began his working life as a freelance journalist with The Irish Press and the Donegal Democrat before establishing himself as an auctioneer, estate agent, and spirit merchant. During The Emergency he served in the FCA, retiring as Officer commanding of the South Donegal Battalion.

He married first Bridget (d. 1940), they had one son and four daughters. In February 1942 he married Margaret McDevitt.

Politics

He polled the highest number of first preferences in the 1949 Donegal West by-election but failed to be elected. Brennan was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal West constituency at the 1951 general election and was re-elected at each election until his death. As constituency boundaries were changed, he represented Donegal South-West from 1961 to 1969, Donegal–Leitrim from 1969 to 1977, and Donegal from 1977 to 1980.

In 1959, when Seán Lemass succeeded as Taoiseach, Brennan was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance. After the 1961 general election, he was appointed as Government Chief Whip, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. After the 1965 general election, Brennan joined the cabinet when he was appointed as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

In 1966, when Jack Lynch succeeded as Taoiseach, Brennan was appointed as Minister for Social Welfare. Following the 1969 general election he was appointed as Minister for Labour. In the wake of the Arms Crisis in 1970 he was appointed to the additional portfolio of Social Welfare. After the 1973 general election, Fine Gael and the Labour Party formed a National Coalition government.

Fianna Fáil were returned to office after the 1977 general election. Brennan was elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, a position he held until his death in 1980, aged 67.

The by-election for his seat in the Donegal constituency was held on 6 November 1980, and won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Clement Coughlan.

He was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland between 1934 and 1938.

References

1. "Joseph Brennan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
2. ^ Dempsey, Pauric J. "Brennan, Joseph". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
3. "Joseph Brennan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
4. "Election of Ceann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 300 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 July 1977. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
5. "Death of Ceann Comhairle: Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 323 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 October 1980. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.

• 1913 births
• 1980 deaths
• Fianna Fáil TDs
• Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers
• Irish sportsperson-politicians
• Members of the 14th Dáil
• Members of the 15th Dáil
• Members of the 16th Dáil
• Members of the 17th Dáil
• Members of the 18th Dáil
• Members of the 19th Dáil
• Members of the 20th Dáil
• Members of the 21st Dáil
• Ministers for social affairs of Ireland
• Parliamentary secretaries of the 17th Dáil
• Politicians from County Donegal
• Presiding officers of Dáil Éireann
• Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland
• Government Chief Whip (Ireland)