Patrick McGilligan

Patrick McGilligan (12 April 1889 – 15 November 1979) was an Irish lawyer and Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael politician.

McGilligan was born in Hanover Place, Coleraine, County Londonderry, the son of Patrick McGilligan, a draper, who would serve as MP for South Fermanagh from 1892 to 1895 for the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Catherine O'Farrell. He was educated at St Columb's College in Derry; Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare and University College Dublin.

He joined Sinn Féin but was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected as a MP at the 1918 general election. McGilligan was called to the bar in 1921.

He was elected as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for the National University of Ireland at a by-election held on 3 November 1923. Between 1924 and 1932 McGilligan served as Minister for Industry and Commerce, notably pushing through the Shannon hydroelectric scheme, then the largest hydroelectricity project in the world. In 1927 he set up the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), and also the Agricultural Credit Corporation.

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