About Me

MY POLITICAL CAREER

Éamon Ó Cuív’s Biographical Note

Éamon Ó Cuív was born in 1950 and reared in Dublin City.  He was Educated at Oatlands College, Mount Merrion, Dublin and University College Dublin where he graduated with a BSc in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

He is married to Áine Ní Choincheannain and they have four children and six grandchildren. The family’s home language is the Irish language.

In 1974 he moved to Corr na Móna, Co Galway an spent the next 18 years as the Manager of an Gaeltacht development co-operative that started businesses in such diverse activities as an Agricultural Store, Farming, Timber Milling, Machinery Hire, Irish Language Summer College as well as acting as a development organisation socially, culturally and economically for this rural Gaeltacht area.

In 1989 Éamon was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational panel.  He was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1992 and has represented the constituency of Galway West there since winning re-election in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2016.

He was Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2002 to 2010 and Minister for Social Protection from 2010 to 2011.

Prior to this, he was Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands from 1997 to 2001 and at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development from 2001 to 2002.

He was also a member of Galway County Council from 1991 to 1997.

He was a Fianna Fáil delegate on the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation (1994-1997) which was established following the Downing Street Declaration of 1993. This sparked a continuing interest and involvement in issues relating to reconciliation on the island of Ireland.  He has been particularly involved in issues relating to prisoners.  He has also built up cross community contacts and is firmly convinced that the only way forward is through a deep and open dialogue between all of the people living on the island of Ireland and between the Irish and British people and governments.

Éamon Ó Cuív has a lifelong interest in and commitment to the Irish language and has championed its development throughout his adult life.

He has also been a strong advocate for rural development and regeneration believing passionately that balanced development between rural and urban areas is the best way forward socially, economically and culturally for Ireland and that the unique geographical and social history of Ireland has to be recognised and built upon.

He is also a passionate advocate for the rights of those living on Irelands offshore islands

At present as a TD for West Galway he continues to be very active in politics and is a member of numerous Parliamentary Committees in Oireachtas Éireann as follows:-

Dáil Reform Committee

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Traveller Affairs.

He is also a frequent attender and contributor at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, The Gaeltacht and the Islands.

He was nominated by the Oireachtas to be a member of the Ministerial Moore Street Advisory Group that is advising the Minister of the historic protection and development of the Moore Street – O’Connell Street area which contains the battle site of the last battle fought by the GPO garrison in 1916.

A long time member of Fianna Fáil he is a former deputy leader of the party.  He is a present chairperson of the nationa Commemorative 1916-1921 Committee of the Party and a member of the national Irish Language Committee of the Party.

A passionate follower of Gaelic Games (hurling and football) he is also president of Cumann Naomh Pádraig, An Fhairche (GAA) club.

Éamon Ó Cuív is a grandson of Éamon de Valera long time Irish politician (1882-1975)

Éamon Ó Cuív is a son of Brian Ó Cuív, who was a professor of Celtic Studies and Emer de Valera Uí Chuív