Joe Sheridan

Joseph Michael Sheridan (27 November 1914 – 30 September 2000) was an Irish politician, originally with Fine Gael but for most of his career an independent.[1][2]

Sheridan came from Colmcille in County Longford, and had three brothers and two sisters.[3] He moved to Westmeath, first to Kilbeggan and then to Mullingar.[1] An auctioneer and farmer by profession,[2] he was elected to Westmeath county council,[1] and then to Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel at a by-election on 14 May 1956.[2] He was re-elected at the 1957 Seanad election, this time on the Labour Panel.[2] He was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1961 general election.[2] In spite of his Fine Gael background, he supported the minority Fianna Fáil government.[1] He was re-elected at the 1965, 1969, 1973 and 1977 general elections. He concentrated on local constituency needs, with the electoral slogan "Vote for Joe, the Man you Know."[1][4] He retired at the 1981 general election.[5]

Sheridan had five sons and four daughters,[1] of whom Kathy Sheridan is a journalist with The Irish Times.[6]