Des Hanafin
| Des Hanafin | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
|
In office 1965–2002 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1930 (age 86–87) Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Children | John Hanafin, Mary Hanafin |
Desmond A. "Des" Hanafin (born 9 September 1930) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a member of Seanad Éireann for over 30 years.
Hanafin was born in Thurles, County Tipperary in 1930, to John "Johnny" Hanafin (b. 1890, d. 1953), a draper and newsagent who served for many years as a Fianna Fáil councillor for North Tipperary County Council and prior to that had been a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and an elected Sinn Féin councillor before independence.
He married, Mona Brady, daughter of J.P. Brady, on 28 August 1958 in Clonmel, Tipperary. The wedding was followed by a reception at the Galtee Hotel, Cahir which was attended by various notables including Rev. Father J.J. Hampson, President of Blackrock College. Their first child, Mary Hanafin, was born in June 1959, followed by John Hanafin in September 1960. Mary Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil TD and minister, and John Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil Senator.
Hanafin operated the Anner Hotel in Thurles during the 1960s, while initially successful, the business failed in 1967. Mary Hanafin later blamed the failure on her father's excess drinking.
Later on Hanafin was a director of the Transinternational Oil Company.
Hanafin's first attempt to become elected to public office proved unsuccessful. In 1953, Hanafin sought to be co-opted to fill the vacancy on North Tippeary County Council created by the death of his father, John Hanafin. In the event councillors co-opted a Labour Party nominee, Michael Treacy, by eleven votes to seven.
He was elected a member of North Tipperary County Council in 1955, polling 934 first preference votes. He was subsequently elected Chairman of the County Council in 1956 with the support of Clann na Poblachta representatives.
In 1957, he conducted a three-month tour of the United States, during which he was commissioned a Kentucky colonel, by then Kentucky Governor Albert "Happy" Chandler. He was also awarded the freedom of Louisville, Kentucky and received by Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago.
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