James Larkin (22 August 1932 – 6 October 1998) was an Irish politician. He was nominated by the Taoiseach Charles Haughey to Seanad Éireann in 1982 and served until 1983. He was elected a member of the Letterkenny Urban District Council in 1967. He was chairman of the council on five different occasions. He was founder member of Independent Fianna Fáil. He was the director of elections for Independent Fianna Fáil leader Neil Blaney. His son Dessie Larkin is a Fianna Fáil member of Donegal County Council.