Michael Keyes
Michael John Keyes (21 March 1886 – 8 September 1959) was an Irish Labour Party politician and trade unionist. He was born on 21 March 1886 at 41 Blackboy Pike, Limerick city, the second son of Michael Keyes, caretaker, and his wife Hannah (née White). After being educated by the Christian Brothers at Sexton Street, Limerick, he began work as a clerk on the Waterford–Limerick railway line and subsequently served an apprenticeship in carpentry in the workshop of the Great Southern and Western Railway where he remained until 1927. He had also joined the National Union of Railwaymen and was chairman of the Limerick shopmens’ branch (1915–1926). In 1918 he was active in the anti-conscription campaign and the following year was appointed a delegate to the Irish Trades Union Congress in Drogheda. He was president of the Irish Trades Union Congress in 1943, and in February 1945 represented it at the World Federation of Trade Unions in London. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann on his second attempt in 1927 as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency. He lost his seat in the second election in 1927 and failed to be elected at the 1932 general election, however, he returned to the Dáil at the 1933 general election. During the Spanish Civil War he sided with the Irish Christian Front who supported Franco's Nationalists over the Republicans. In 1949 he joined the cabinet of John A. Costello replacing the recently deceased Timothy J. Murphy and serving as Minister for Local Government from 1949 to 1951. During the Mother and Child Scheme controversy he urged the government to accept the Catholic Church in Ireland's rebuke of the scheme. He served in government again between 1954 and 1957, serving as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. Keyes fought his last election in 1954 and subsequently retired from the Dáil. He also served as Mayor of Limerick from 1928 to 1930, as did his son Christopher P. Keyes from 1957 to 1958, his nephew Frank Leddin (1965–1966 and 1997–1998), his nephew Tim Leddin (1987–1988) and his grandnephew, Joe Leddin (2006–2007). Tim Leddin's wife, Kathleen Leddin also served as mayor from 2013 to 2014 and their son, Keyes' grandnephew, Brian Leddin was Green Party TD for Limerick City from 2020 to 2024.
Michael Keyes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Keyes in 1927 | |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | |
| In office 2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957 | |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello |
| Preceded by | Erskine H. Childers |
| Succeeded by | Neil Blaney |
| Minister for Local Government | |
| In office 11 May 1949 – 13 June 1951 | |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello |
| Preceded by | William Norton (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Paddy Smith |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 1948 – March 1957 | |
| Constituency | Limerick East |
| In office January 1933 – February 1948 | |
| In office June 1927 – September 1927 | |
| Constituency | Limerick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1886 Limerick, Ireland |
| Died | 8 September 1959 (aged 73) Limerick, Ireland |
| Party | Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Sheila Clancy (m. 1916) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Brian Leddin (grandnephew) |
| Occupation | Carpenter |
Michael John Keyes (21 March 1886 – 8 September 1959) was an Irish Labour Party politician and trade unionist.
He was born on 21 March 1886 at 41 Blackboy Pike, Limerick city, the second son of Michael Keyes, caretaker, and his wife Hannah (née White). After being educated by the Christian Brothers at Sexton Street, Limerick, he began work as a clerk on the Waterford–Limerick railway line and subsequently served an apprenticeship in carpentry in the workshop of the Great Southern and Western Railway where he remained until 1927.[1]
He had also joined the National Union of Railwaymen and was chairman of the Limerick shopmens’ branch (1915–1926). In 1918 he was active in the anti-conscription campaign and the following year was appointed a delegate to the Irish Trades Union Congress in Drogheda. He was president of the Irish Trades Union Congress in 1943, and in February 1945 represented it at the World Federation of Trade Unions in London.[1]
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann on his second attempt in 1927 as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency.[2] He lost his seat in the second election in 1927 and failed to be elected at the 1932 general election, however, he returned to the Dáil at the 1933 general election.
During the Spanish Civil War he sided with the Irish Christian Front who supported Franco's Nationalists over the Republicans.[3]
In 1949 he joined the cabinet of John A. Costello replacing the recently deceased Timothy J. Murphy and serving as Minister for Local Government from 1949 to 1951. During the Mother and Child Scheme controversy he urged the government to accept the Catholic Church in Ireland's rebuke of the scheme.[3]
He served in government again between 1954 and 1957, serving as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. Keyes fought his last election in 1954 and subsequently retired from the Dáil.[4] He also served as Mayor of Limerick from 1928 to 1930,[5][6] as did his son Christopher P. Keyes from 1957 to 1958, his nephew Frank Leddin (1965–1966 and 1997–1998), his nephew Tim Leddin (1987–1988) and his grandnephew, Joe Leddin (2006–2007).[7][8][9] Tim Leddin's wife, Kathleen Leddin also served as mayor from 2013 to 2014 and their son, Keyes' grandnephew, Brian Leddin was Green Party TD for Limerick City from 2020 to 2024.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ferriter, Diarmaid. "Keyes, Michael John". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Michael Keyes". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Extract from Magill's Book of Irish Politics" (PDF). limerickcity.ie. Limerick City.ie. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Michael Keyes". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Michael Keyes". AskAboutIreland.ie. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Mayoralty of Limerick" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Joe Leddin". Labour.ie. 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Former education chief and mayor dies". Irish Independent. 9 August 2002.
- ^ "Mayors" (PDF). Limerick Leader. 26 June 1957.
- ^ Raleigh, David (10 February 2020). "Jan O'Sullivan a high profile casualty as Limerick sees Sinn Féin surge". Irish Examiner.
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
