Paddy Power (Irish politician)

Patrick Power (19 November 1928 – 14 August 2013)[1] was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.[2]

A national schoolteacher before entering politics, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare constituency at the 1969 general election.[3]

He served as Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 1979 to June 1981 and Minister for Defence in the government of March to December 1982.[2] He was briefly Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism in October 1982 following the resignation of Desmond O'Malley to challenge for the leadership of the party. He was also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1977 to 1979.[3]

Power retired from politics at the 1989 general election. His son, Seán Power is a former TD and Minister of State.[3] Another son, J. J. Power, served as a Green Party councillor on Kildare County Council.[3] He died on 14 August 2013 in Caragh, County Kildare.[4] He had no connection with the Irish bookmakers of the same name.