Nationality Irish Children 2 | Website declanb.ie Constituency Louth | |
Alma mater St Patrick's College, Dublin | ||
Declan breathnach td ff
Declan Breathnach is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency, upon being elected at the 2016 general election. At 58 years of age, Declan is a father of two adult children: Cian (23) and Méabh (21). Born and raised in Knockbridge, Dundalk, he has studied at the Christian Brothers School and has a Bachelor of Education from St. Patricks college, Drumcondra. He has worked in Primary school teaching for 35 years – first in St. Brigids School Dunleer (12 years) and the as Principal of Walshestown national school (23 years). Declan has actively farmed from an early age – a drystock of cattle and sheep and alternative enterprise of organic venison production.
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Declan has been a member of Fianna Fáil since his early teens – over the years Declan has held many different elected positions within the party, at both a local and national level. He has served as a Cumman secretary, Member of the officer board of Louth Comhairle Dáil Ceantair and most notable as the Louth constituency representative on the Fianna Fáil National Executive. A position held up until his election as a Louth County Councillor in 1991.
Since Declan’s first election to Louth County Council in 1991, he successfully retained he seat for 25 years, across 5 elections. Declan contested the 2011 general election for Fianna Fáil in which he secured 5,177 first preference votes. Although unsuccessful on this run, he managed to capture 7.47% of the total vote as a first time General Election candidate. Declan continued to serve as a Louth County Councillor until 2016. He successfully contested the 2016 General election. Amassing 9,099 First preference votes and was elected 1st on the 6th count, to serve as a Dáil deputy for the constituency of Louth.
Declan has held a number of positions in cross boarder bodies over the years: °He served as Joint Chairperson of the Memorandum of Association between Down Council and Louth Council from 2010 – 2015. °He has also been a member of the East Boarder Regions committee. °He has also served as the Chairperson of the Louth County Council Special Policy Group on Infrastructure, European and Cross Border Matters. °He now serves as Vice Chairperson of the British and Irish Parliamentary Assembly, an intergovernmental organisation that promotes co-operation between political representatives in Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the High Court of Tynwald and the States of Guernsey and Jersey.
Other areas in which Declan has served: Health • Former Member of The North Eastern Health Board, 1991 till the HSE took over. • Former Chair of North Eastern Health Board. Jobs & Enterprise • Member of Louth County Enterprise Board (now Louth enterprise office) • Chairperson of Louth County Development board • Proposer of Louth Economic Forum • Member of Mid Louth Community Initiative Environment & Local Government • Former Chair of Louth County Council • Proposer of Tidy Towns Together concept Agriculture, Food & Community Affairs • Member of Irish Farmers Association • Managed own farm, Cattle, Sheep, and Dee