Tony Kett Explained

Nationality:Irish
Term Start:17 September 1997
Term End:19 April 2009
Constituency:Administrative Panel
Birth Date:1 June 1951
Birth Place:County Galway, Ireland
Death Place:Dublin, Ireland
Party:Fianna Fáil
Spouse:Noreen Kett
Children:3
Alma Mater:College of Commerce, Rathmines

Tony Kett (1 June 1951 – 19 April 2009)[1] [2] was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and member of Seanad Éireann. In 1997, he was elected to the 21st Seanad by the Administrative Panel. He was elected again in 2002 and in 2007.[3]

Born in Woodlawn, County Galway, Kett was an administrator of the Central Remedial Clinic. He was reportedly a key member of the "Drumcondra Mafia", as Bertie Ahern's inner circle of constituency supporters are dubbed.[4]

He was co-opted as member of Dublin City Council for the North Inner City electoral area in 1988 to replace Bertie Ahern (who had resigned when he was appointed a government minister) and was re-elected at the 1999 local elections.[5] With the abolition of the dual mandate, he did not contest the 2004 local elections.[6]

He died on 19 April 2009 of cancer.[1] [2] [7] Tributes were led by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Kett was succeeded in the Seanad by former County Louth councillor James Carroll.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ahern leads tributes to senator. The Press Association. 19 April 2009.
  2. Web site: Senator Tony Kett dies after long illness. RTÉ News. 19 April 2009. 19 April 2009.
  3. Web site: Tony Kett. Oireachtas Members Database. 19 February 2008.
  4. Web site: Bertie's real cabinet. Justine McCarthy. 25 March 2007. Sunday Tribune. 19 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20071120105721/http://www.tribune.ie/2007/03/25/83954.html. 20 November 2007.
  5. Web site: Tony Kett. ElectionsIreland.org. 19 February 2008.
  6. Web site: Elections 2004: Dublin City Council . . 19 February 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041212015619/http://www.rte.ie/news/elections2004/profiles/dublincity.html . 12 December 2004 .
  7. News: FF Senator Tony Kett dies after long illness. The Irish Times. 20 April 2009. 20 April 2009.
  8. News: Members welcome Carroll to chamber. The Irish Times. 26 November 2009. 26 November 2009.