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The Brothers Healy-Rae are the latest in a long line of siblings in the Dáil

Michael and Danny will be the first siblings elected to the same constituency, but there have been a few others who served in the same Dáil.

90410258 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

FAMILY DYNASTIES HAVE always played an outsized role in Irish political life.

After all, the last two Taoisigh – Enda Kenny and Brian Cowen – originally took over their seats from their fathers, and our last head of government not to have had a family member in the Dáil was Albert Reynolds.

In fact, 29 TDs in the outgoing Dáil had family members who had a place in our lower house of parliament.

But siblings are rarer. In Irish history, there have been 26 sets of brothers and sisters, and 10 of them sat in Dáil Eireann at the same time.

What Michael and Danny Healy-Rae just achieved, however, is unprecedented. There has never before been a pair of siblings elected to the same Dáil, in the same constituency.

Here’s a quick look back at some of the most high-profile brothers and sisters who went to work together on Kildare Street, over the last few decades.

Bertie & Noel Ahern (1992-2011)

00023654 (L-R) Noel, Maurice and Bertie Ahern, in 2001. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Bertie was, of course, Taoiseach from 1997-2008, and a TD since 1977.

In 1992, Noel – seven years his senior – joined Bertie at work on Kildare Street, and served as a TD for Dublin North-West, rising to Junior Minister from 2007-2009, before the two brothers bowed out together at the 2011 election.

The eldest of the three – and last to make his bid for national office – was Maurice, a councillor in Cabra-Glasnevin and former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

He attempted to join Bertie in Dublin Central in 2009, but came fifth in the by-election caused by the death of Independent TD Tony Gregory.

Brian & Conor Lenihan (1997-2011)

90104597 Brian and Conor Lenihan (C and R) in 2008. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

The late Brian Lenihan was first elevated to the Dáil at the age of 36, in the 1996 Dublin West by-election caused by the death of his father, former Tánaiste Brian Lenihan Sr.

He held the seat in the general election the following year, when he was joined in the lower house by his brother Conor, four years his junior, who won a seat in Dublin South-West.

Conor, previously a journalist and business consultant, held three separate junior ministries during the 2000s, while Brian was made junior minister for Children.

The elder Lenihan brother was elevated to cabinet in 2007, when Bertie Ahern appointed him Justice Minister.

When Brian Cowen took over as Taoiseach in 2008, he appointed Brian Lenihan to succeed him as Minister for Finance, making him perhaps the most scrutinised politician in the country, as Ireland suffered the rigours of financial crisis and bailout.

In February 2011, Brian came through a scare in Dublin West, but managed to hold on to his seat, making him Fianna Fáil’s last remaining TD in the capital, amid their catastrophic election that year. He died of pancreatic cancer four months later.

After topping the poll in 2007, Conor Lenihan suffered a somewhat humiliating defeat in Dublin South-West four years later, when his vote was slashed by almost 75% and he was the third candidate eliminated out of 10.

John & Richard Bruton (1982-2004)

00010689 John and Richard Bruton at a press conference in 1997. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

The second of two Taoisigh to have served alongside his brother, John Bruton was a TD in Meath for 35 years, first being elected in 1969.

Richard – six years younger – was fast-tracked from Meath County Council to Dáil Éireann (via the Seanad) in just three years, getting elected in Dublin North-Central in 1982, at the age of just 28.

His big brother appointed him Minister for Enterprise in 1994, before resigning as party leader, in opposition, in 2001, and retiring from the Dáil in 2004.

They are one of only two sets of siblings in Irish history to serve in the same cabinet. Which brings us to…

Brian Lenihan Sr & Mary O’Rourke (1982-1995)

lenihanorourke RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Another generation of Lenihans, another set of siblings.

Brian Sr was first elected to the Dáil in Roscommon at the 1961 contest, after serving in the Seanad for four years.

In 1965, his father Patrick was elected in Longford-Westmeath – the first and still the only instance of a parent entering the Dáil after their child.

In all, Brian Lenihan Sr held seven senior cabinet ministries between 1964 and 1990, and was Tánaiste to Charles Haughey from 1987 until 1990, when Haughey sacked him amid controversy, at the height of Lenihan’s ultimately unsuccessful candidacy for President.

Lenihan grew up in Athlone, alongside his sister Mary, who joined him in the Dáil in 1982, after being elected in Longford-Westmeath, where their father Patrick had held a seat until 1970.

When she was appointed Minister for Education in 1987, Lenihan and O’Rourke became the first siblings in Irish history to hold cabinet posts at the same time – an achievement that was equalled 10 years later, when Richard Bruton became Minister for Enterprise.

Lenihan had suffered ill health, and once famously won re-election in Dublin West in 1989, while undergoing a liver transplant in the United States.

He died at the age of 64 in 1995, triggering a by-election which his son Brian won.

O’Rourke held three senior ministries in all, before losing her seat by 350 votes in 2002, and serving in the Seanad for five years.

She was handily re-elected to the Dáil in 2007, and despite not holding ministerial office again, was regarded as something of a matriarch for the Fianna Fáil party nationally.

With the electorate punishing Fianna Fáil throughout the country in 2011, then 73-year-old O’Rourke saw her vote slashed in Longford-Westmeath that year.

She failed to be re-elected, meaning there was no member of the Lenihan family in the Dáil or Seanad, for the first time in 54 years.

00098322 (L-R) Tom Kitt, Aine Brady, Michael Kitt - the most recent set of three siblings to serve in the same Dáil. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Here’s the full list of siblings who sat in the Dáil at the same time:

  • Michael and Danny Healy-Rae (Independent). 2016-
  • Michael P Kitt, Tom Kitt, Aine Brady. (Fianna Fáil). 2007-2011
  • Brian & Conor Lenihan (Fianna Fáil). 1997-2011
  • Bertie & Noel Ahern (Fianna Fáil). 1992-2011
  • John & Richard Bruton (Fine Gael) 1982-2004
  • Brian Lenihan Sr & Mary O’Rourke (Fianna Fáil). 1982-1995
  • Jim & Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael). 1981-2002
  • David & Niall Andrews (Fianna Fáil). 1977-1987
  • Maurice & Percy Dockrell (Fine Gael). 1951-1977. 26 years, the longest shared time in Dáil Éireann, of any siblings.
  • Tom & Michael O Higgins (Fine Gael). 1948-1969
  • Thomas & Patrick Byrne (Independent). 1956-1961
  • William (WT) & Philip Cosgrave (Cumann na nGaedheal). 1921-1923

Pre-Independence British parliament

  • Willie & John Redmond (Irish Parliamentary “Home Rule” Party) 1883-1917. 34 years, the longest shared time in parliament, of any siblings representing Ireland.
  • Tim & Maurice Healy (Home Rule Party). 1885-1900, 1909-1910. From 1892-1900, they were joined by a third brother, Thomas.
  • Timothy & Alexander Sullivan (Home Rule Party). 1880-1882.

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57 Comments
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    Mute Dave Phelan
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    May 6th 2022, 7:10 AM

    A terrifying reality for loyalists is that they are Irish. British taxpayers just see them as an expensive drain on their taxes. The sooner loyalists realise they live on an island which is off the mainland of Europe the better.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    May 6th 2022, 8:21 AM

    @Dave Phelan: The sooner the loyalists realise that GB doesn’t want them anymore the better. They can’t be that stupid to the fact that British people will always see them as them as Irish whether they come from Dublin, Cork or Belfast.

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    May 6th 2022, 9:04 AM

    @Joe Johnson: Not an easy thing to admit to oneself though.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    May 6th 2022, 9:08 AM

    @Joe Johnson: the ROI doesn’t want them either. That’s the problem. I think they realise this. It’s the no one likes us we don’t care attitude.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    May 6th 2022, 11:03 AM

    @GrumpyAulFella: the Republic doesn’t want rabid unionists or rabid nationalists. There’s a particular mindset in unionist and nationalist ghettos in NI that is toxic, and the last thing we need in a stable Republic.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 6th 2022, 11:11 AM

    @John Mulligan: Stable Republic? Housing crisis, Homelessness, Crumbling Health service , Billions taken from the economy and Billions yet to be repaid for the gangsterism of the banks facilated by the same political parties now in power .Scandal after scandal. A government that between them have governed this state since it’s foundation and are in government together now just to preserve the status quo. When you recall the Taoiseach Martin stated they was no bank bailout and the future Taoiseach Varadkar under criminal investigation, Is that the stable Republic you comment about.

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    Mute Jaime
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    May 6th 2022, 11:39 AM

    @Donal Desmond: lots of soundbites, but it doesn’t take away the reality for people living in Ireland. were consistently at the to of quality of life rankings, relatively low tax to most of Europe for low paid and a destination for thousands to start a new life. if you can’t tell the difference between 100 years of stability here, and the unstable chaos in northern Ireland, then you’re probably more aligned with the 23% looking to destabilise that peaceful republic.

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    Mute Keith McNair
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    May 6th 2022, 1:04 PM

    @John Mulligan: just because one is born in a stable …

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    May 6th 2022, 1:18 PM

    @Donal Desmond: is there anything in your post there that can’t be said about the state of NI and the UK? I don’t think so. But our standard of living is good in the South, we’re at full employment, our economy is strong. We’ve much to be content about. Back in the 80s you drove across the border northbound onto nice roads, cheap petrol and goods, flashy houses. Now the opposite is true.

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    May 6th 2022, 2:08 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: They now realise they are a minority in the north. The next project is to get your tribe of partitionist’s in the south to realise that You too are a bitter lost minority, and the vast majority of decent people living on this island will enjoy, future unity, peace and prosperity, despite all your bitter ranting!

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    May 6th 2022, 2:11 PM

    @John Mulligan: John the record is scratched, put down that old worn out Fine Gael book of quotes and replies, and instead post something in your own words, if you can string a sentence together.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    May 6th 2022, 3:34 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: have you learned how to speak as Gaeilge yet? I don’t know who “your” are supposed to be but the Shinner way has always been to accuse anyone who isn’t a supporter of the political wing of the IRA as a Blueshirt. So I’m guessing that you think that I’m a Blueshirt. That’s hilarious. It’s almost a Putin thing, sue the media (RTE), threaten to shut down the state broadcaster (RTE)when in power, sue your political opposition (Eastwood), sanitise your web site (Russia content removed overnight), label those who do not support your party as fascist Blueshirts. The parallels with Putin’s Russia are stark comrade.

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    May 8th 2022, 2:47 PM

    @Donal Desmond: You are confusing stable with well run. We have (relative to most countries) no extreme right-wing politicians, an independent judiciary, low levels of corruption by international standards, a police force who aren’t randomly arresting or disappearing people, we not run by a homicidal dictator and our army isn’t constantly taking over the country with coups.

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    Mute Michael Mccahill
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    May 6th 2022, 7:15 AM

    Brilliant article. Great observations, delivered with humour.

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    Mute Pat Casey
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    May 6th 2022, 7:23 AM

    One of the best articles I have read in the Journal in a long while.

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    Mute Brian Burns
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    May 6th 2022, 8:58 AM

    @Pat Casey: refreshing pat

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    Mute stephen keane
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    May 6th 2022, 7:21 AM

    Very good article peter

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    Mute Alan Wilson
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    May 6th 2022, 8:17 AM

    Great article well written and funny.Not getting bogged down too deep if the fact that it’s sectarianism that keeps the DUP in power

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    Mute James Reardon
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    May 6th 2022, 8:04 AM

    Great article Peter.

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    Mute Moss Cotter
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    May 6th 2022, 9:21 AM

    Maybe go into journalism full time Peter you nailed it, it’s odd that an election campaign that as he put it was unusually interesting and energised only had a 54% turn out.

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    Mute Insider at RTE
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    May 6th 2022, 8:12 AM

    Got as far as “mainland” and then quit the article.

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    Mute Brian Burns
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    May 6th 2022, 8:56 AM

    @Insider at RTE: don’t worry mate they will be plenty of copy and paste afp articles coming later..this was a great article I’m so glad one word didn’t sway me from this articulate,humorous piece of writing

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    Mute Peter
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    May 6th 2022, 11:25 AM

    @Insider at RTE: really, to the DUP the mainland is the UK, I didn’t get the opinion he was referring to anything or anyone in the republic thinking that way. You read a single word and assume it’s referring to x which you don’t like and just stop reading, I think that is really sad. How do you ever expect to learn or increase your understanding of world if you just stop engaging the second something displeases you.

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    Mute Misty Eyed Mutton
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    May 6th 2022, 4:00 PM

    @Insider at RTE: Your pursuit of enlightenment and your searching to see the other man’s perspective is inspiring. It’s no wonder you’ve converted so many Unionists to the idea of a United Ireland.

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    Mute François Pignon
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    May 6th 2022, 10:36 AM

    Rees Mogg a devout catholic :) , never would have guessed!

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    Mute Cathal O'Donoghue
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    May 6th 2022, 11:17 AM

    @François Pignon: Actually makes sense if you think about it. In a weird way.

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    May 6th 2022, 2:12 PM

    @François Pignon: — So was the Nazi Roman Catholic priest who ran Slovakia during WW2, so it’s no evidence of someone being a saintly person :P

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    Mute keyboardwarrior
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    May 7th 2022, 3:29 AM

    @François Pignon: Boris Johnson is a baptized Catholic too, Devout is very a subjective term.

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    Mute Marcus Suridius
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    May 6th 2022, 8:32 AM

    Good article, it will be interesting to see how the results pan out.

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    Mute Pj Berry
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    May 6th 2022, 11:17 AM

    Best overall view of the situation in the North I have read in a long time.

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    Mute Lucy Legacy
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    May 6th 2022, 1:54 PM

    An independent NI would do the trick. Any nationalist has more in common with a unionist at this stage. Shared land and shared history. Sadly too many are unable to see that.

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    May 6th 2022, 2:15 PM

    @Lucy Legacy: How about an Independent Munster or Leinster or whatever province you come from Lucy?

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    Mute Rúraíocht
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    May 6th 2022, 3:03 PM

    Great read. Fundamentalism is the issue. Unionism knows it’s place in westminster, that the english are indifferent to its cause. I think as long as they have MP seats they will use their leverage to get what they want, uncontested by SF. For extremists such as DUP there is but obe objective, avoid a UI. Doesn’t matter how bad economy is.

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    Mute J
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    May 6th 2022, 10:34 PM

    London being one of the world’s great cities yet most Londoners couldn’t point Ireland out on a map and therein lies the problem for Ireland for the last several hundred years.

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    Mute Keith McNair
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    May 6th 2022, 1:08 PM

    This article regurgitates the same old tired out commentary, whilst failing to engage at all adequately with the core issues, such as the significant majority of people In NI who do not want this so-called “united Ireland”.

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    Mute Pablo
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    May 6th 2022, 2:35 PM

    @Keith McNair: The topic was about a party stuck in their ways that might be getting left behind by the electorate …. wasn’t anything to do with a united Ireland. And it dealt with it’s topic very well.

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    Mute A Well Known Comical Stereotype AKA PRGuy
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    May 6th 2022, 9:11 PM

    @Keith McNair: “Significant majority” – hardly. That conversation hasn’t started in earnest but it is coming.

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    Mute Speak Freely
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    May 7th 2022, 8:28 AM

    Eamon McCann described them as the ‘lost tribe’ a long time ago, the article is basically a mishmash / regurgitation of others analysis / ideas, didn’t see anything original in it, I can see why southerners with a casual interest in north would like it.

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    Mute Papa Benzo
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    May 7th 2022, 6:54 PM

    What an absolutely fine example of a great article, thanks for the read, I shall be sharing this with colleagues that I have been trying to explain the situation to..

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