Michael Begley (politician)

Michael Begley (1932 – 26 March 2012) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for Kerry South between 1969 and 1989. He also served as a Minister of State in a number of government departments.

Born in Dingle, County Kerry in 1932 to a farming family, Begley was a carpenter and secondary school teacher before entering national politics.

Prior to his election as a TD, Begley was elected to Kerry County Council and was subsequently elected as Mayor of Kerry. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann on his third attempt at the 1969 general election for Kerry South. Four years later in 1973 Fine Gael came to power in coalition government with the Labour Party and Begley was appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government. In 1975 Begley became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance following the death of Henry Kenny. He served in that position until 1977.

In 1981 he became a Junior Minister for the Department of Industry and Commerce in the government of Garret FitzGerald. He served in this capacity until 1982 when the government fell. Begley remained a TD until losing his seat at the 1989 general election to the Labour Party's Michael Moynihan. He then retired from politics.

Michael Begley died aged 80 at his home in Dingle. Tributes were paid among many politicians including Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.