Seán Neeson MLA |
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Leader of the Northern Ireland Alliance Party | |
In office 1998–2001 |
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Preceded by | John Alderdice |
Succeeded by | David Ford |
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Antrim East |
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In office 25 June 1998 – 2011 |
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Preceded by | New Creation |
Personal details | |
Born | 9 February 1946 |
Political party | Alliance |
Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Profession | Teacher |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Website | Alliance webpage |
Seán Neeson (born 9 February 1946) is a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001.
Neeson was educated at St. Malachy's College and then the Queen's University of Belfast before working as a teacher for many years. In the 1970s he joined the Alliance and in 1977 he was first elected to Carrickfergus council and has remained a member ever since, serving as Mayor in 1993-94.
In 1982 Neeson was elected to the Prior Assembly for Northern Ireland for the constituency of North Antrim. The following year he first contested the new constituency of East Antrim in the 1983 general election and subsequently fought it in the 1986 by-election called on the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the 1987 general election, the 1992 general election and the 1997 general election.
He was also elected from the constituency to the Northern Ireland Peace Forum in 1996 and the Northern Ireland Assembly in both the 1998 and 2003 elections. On several occasions Neeson has been at the head of the single highest vote for Alliance in a province wide election. During this period Neeson emerged as one of the leading Alliance spokespersons, often participating in their delegation to successive talks about the future of the province.