John Wilson
Wilson in 1990
Tánaiste
In office
13 November 1990 – 12 January 1993
Taoiseach
Preceded byBrian Lenihan
Succeeded byDick Spring
Minister for Defence
In office
11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded byVincent Brady
Succeeded byDavid Andrews
Minister for the Gaeltacht
In office
11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded byCharles Haughey
Succeeded byMichael D. Higgins
Minister for the Marine
In office
12 July 1989 – 11 February 1992
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byBrendan Daly
Succeeded byMichael Woods
Minister for Tourism and Transport
In office
31 March 1987 – 12 July 1989
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byRay MacSharry
Succeeded bySéamus Brennan
Minister for Communications
In office
10 March 1987 – 31 March 1987
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byJim Mitchell
Succeeded byRay Burke
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office
9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byPatrick Cooney
Succeeded byJim Mitchell
Minister for Education
In office
5 July 1977 – 30 June 1981
Taoiseach
Preceded byPeter Barry
Succeeded byJohn Boland
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977 – November 1992
ConstituencyCavan–Monaghan
In office
February 1973 – June 1977
ConstituencyCavan
Personal details
Born(1923-07-08)8 July 1923
Kilcogy, County Cavan, Ireland
Died9 July 2007(2007-07-09) (aged 84)
Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
SpouseIta Ward
Children4
RelativesDiarmuid Wilson (nephew)
EducationSt. Mel's College
Alma mater

John Patrick Wilson (8 July 1923 – 9 July 2007) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 1990 to 1993, Minister for Defence and Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1992 to 1993, Minister for the Marine from 1989 to 1992, Minister for Tourism and Transport from 1987 to 1989, Minister for Communications in March 1987, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from March 1982 to December 1982 and Minister for Education from 1977 to 1981. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1973 to 1992.[1]

Early life

Wilson was born in 1923 at Callanagh, Kilcogy, County Cavan, the son of John Wilson, a farmer, and his wife Brigid (née Comaskey).[2] He was educated at St. Mel's College in Longford, the University of London and the National University of Ireland. In 1942 he entered Maynooth College to train for the catholic priesthood, but left after four years as a seminarian.[2] He graduated with a Master of Arts in Classics and a Higher Diploma in Education. He was a secondary school teacher at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny and Gonzaga College and also a university lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD), before he became involved in politics.[3]

Gaelic football

Wilson was also a Gaelic footballer for the Cavan county team, with which he won two All-Ireland medals; one in 1947 in the Polo Grounds, New York.[4] He was a member of the teachers trade union, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), and served as president of the association.[5] While at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny (at which time he lived at 2 College Row, close to the school gates,[6] and taught within them between 1952 and 1960),[7][8]

Wilson was known as "Big Johnny", training the team that would reach the final of the 1961 MacRory Cup (though he departed for a teaching post at Gonzaga College midway through the year).[9]

Political career

Wilson was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1973 general election for the Cavan constituency, for Cavan–Monaghan in 1977 and at each subsequent election until his retirement after the dissolution of the 26th Dail in 1992.[10] He was succeeded as Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan by his special advisor, Brendan Smith, who went on to serve as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 2008 to 2011. In 1977, Taoiseach Jack Lynch appointed Wilson to the cabinet as Minister for Education. He went on to serve in each Fianna Fáil government until his retirement, serving in the governments of Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds.

In 1990, Wilson challenged Brian Lenihan for the Fianna Fáil nomination for the 1990 presidential election. Lenihan won the nomination but failed to be elected President and was also sacked from the government. Wilson was then appointed Tánaiste. He remained in the cabinet until retirement in 1993. Although the 26th Dail was dissolved in December 1992, Wilson served in Government until the new government took office.

Retirement

Following his retirement from politics, Wilson was appointed the Commissioner of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. This position entailed involvement with members of the Provisional IRA to assist in finding the bodies of the disappeared who were murdered by the Provisional IRA during The Troubles.

Wilson died in Beaumont, Dublin, on 9 July 2007.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "John P. Wilson". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 Clavin, Terry. "Wilson, John Patrick". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Former tánaiste John Wilson dies". The Irish Times. 7 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Cavan legend John Wilson passes away". RTÉ News. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Former Tanaiste John Wilson dies". Longford Leader. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
  6. ↑ O'Sullivan, Jim (2006). "Michael Kerr — Remembered". St. Eunan's College: 1906 - 2006. Browne Printers Ltd. pp. 157–8.
  7. ↑ Strain, Hugh (24 October 2006). "Football in St. Eunan's in the 1950s". Archived from the original on 24 October 2006.
  8. ↑ St. Eunan's College: 1906 - 2006. Browne Printers Ltd. 2006. p. 198.
  9. ↑ "The Mac Rory Cup Campaign of 1960/61". Archived from the original on 24 October 2006.
  10. ↑ "John Wilson". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
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