Vincent P. Martin

Vincent Peter Martin[2] (born 1968) is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as a Senator since June 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[3]

This article is about the Irish Green Party politician. For the Australian politician, see Vince Martin (politician).

Senator

Vincent P. Martin
Martin in 2020
Senator
Assumed office
29 June 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born1968
Cavan, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyGreen Party (since 2006)
Other political
affiliations		Fianna Fáil c. 1999
Spouse(s)Hilda Martin
Relations
Children2
EducationSt Macartan's College
Alma mater

Early life

Martin was born in Cavan in 1968, but is a native of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.[4] The P in his name is a reference to his granduncle Vincent "Pepper" Martin, a Brooklyn-based professional boxer who once made an appearance on the front cover of The Ring, one of the sports' most well-known magazines.[5] His sister is Catherine Martin, is the deputy leader of the Green Party, whom Vincent recruited in. Previous to politics, Martin was a barrister by profession.[6] He is married to Hilda, with whom he has a son and a daughter.[7]

Political career

Martin began his political career in 1999 as a member of Carrickmacross Town Council. He later became a Monaghan County Councillor in 2004 as an Independent member, however, previous to this some sources have stated he was a member of Fianna Fáil.[8][9] He served in local politics for 10 years and he was noted as one of the few representatives at that time who advocated for Environmentalism and stood firm on decisions about planning permission. In 2006, this prompted then Green Party leader John Gormley to recruit Martin into the Green Party.[7] In 2009, Martin stepped away from local politics to concentrate on being a barrister and to spend time with his newlywed wife. Upon his resignation, his fellow councillors lauded Martin as a "gentlemen" who never spoke out on anything "unless it was in a dignified manner". The fact that he came into politics with no family connections was also praised.[6] He was expected to name fellow local green party member Darcy Lonergan as his replacement, but as Longeran was away studying in the United States,[6] Vincent instead co-opted his sister Catherine into the position.[9] Catherine vacated her seat upon the death of the Martins' mother and co-opted it to the returning Lonergan.[10]

Martin remained out of politics for a decade. In that time he moved to Naas in County Kildare. In 2019, he returned to politics, topping the poll in the Naas local electoral area at the 2019 local elections.[7]

In the 2020 general election, he ran as a Green Party candidate in Kildare North, but was not elected.[11] In June 2020, Martin became a Senator upon the Green Party entering into government.[12]

References
  1. "Northern Standard » Blog Archive » CARRICK BARRISTER IS MADE SENIOR COUNSEL".
  2. "Calls to the Bar: Michaelmas Term" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. "Vincent P. Martin". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. O'Meara, Paul (6 February 2020). "Vincent P Martin is anything but green on the campaign trail". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  5. O'Meara, Paul (6 February 2020). "Vincent P Martin is anything but green on the campaign trail". Retrieved 28 June 2020. The P in his name is a reference to his granduncle Vincent (Pepper) Martin, a US-based pro boxer who once figured on the front cover of Ring, the sport's prestigious magazine
  6. "Shock as Vincent P. Martin resigns". 9 November 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  7. Sheahan, Fionnán (28 January 2020). "The Green Martin machine aiming to outdo Healy-Raes". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  8. "Versatile Vincent". The Phoenix. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. "GREEN BLUESHIRT ALLIANCE". The Phoenix. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  10. "Young Bloods – Catherine Martin". The Phoenix. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. Horgan-Jones, Jack (18 January 2020). "Election 2020: Kildare North constituency profile". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020. Martin is a brother to Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin, and topped the poll in Naas while two other Greens were elected in Maynooth and Celbridge.
  12. Kelly, Fiach (27 June 2020). "Nine of the 11 Taoiseach's appointees to the Seanad are women". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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