Brian Lenihan Snr

This article is about the elder politician. For his son, see Brian Lenihan Jnr.

Brian Lenihan Snr
Lenihan in 1973
Tánaiste
In office
10 March 1987 – 31 October 1990
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byPeter Barry
Succeeded byJohn Wilson
Minister for Defence
In office
12 July 1989 – 31 October 1990
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byMichael J. Noonan
Succeeded byBrendan Daly
Minister for Agriculture
In office
9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byAlan Dukes
Succeeded byAustin Deasy
Minister for Fisheries
In office
5 July 1977 – 12 December 1979
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byPaddy Donegan
Succeeded byPaddy Power
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
10 March 1987 – 12 July 1989
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byPeter Barry
Succeeded byGerry Collins
In office
12 December 1979 – 30 June 1981
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byMichael O'Kennedy
Succeeded byJohn Kelly
In office
3 January 1973 – 14 March 1973
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byPatrick Hillery
Succeeded byGarret FitzGerald
Minister for Transport and Power
In office
2 July 1969 – 3 January 1973
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byErskine Childers
Succeeded byMichael O'Kennedy
Minister for Education
In office
26 March 1968 – 2 July 1969
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byJack Lynch
Succeeded byPádraig Faulkner
Minister for Justice
In office
3 November 1964 – 26 March 1968
TaoiseachSeán Lemass
Jack Lynch
Preceded bySeán Lemass
Succeeded byMícheál Ó Móráin
Parliamentary Secretary
1961–1964Justice
1961–1964Lands
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977 – 1 November 1995
ConstituencyDublin West
In office
June 1977 – June 1981
ConstituencyDublin County West
In office
June 1969 – February 1973
ConstituencyRoscommon-Leitrim
In office
October 1961 – June 1969
ConstituencyRoscommon
Other parliamentary offices
Member of the European Parliament
In office
13 March 1973 – 16 June 1977
ConstituencyOireachtas Delegation
Senator
In office
1 June 1973 – 16 June 1977
In office
22 May 1957 – 4 October 1961
ConstituencyIndustrial and Commercial Panel
Personal details
Born(1930-11-17)17 November 1930
Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Died1 November 1995(1995-11-01) (aged 64)
Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Anne Devine
​
(m. 1958)​
Children7, including Brian and Conor
Parent
Relatives
EducationMarist College, Athlone
Alma mater

Brian Patrick Lenihan (17 November 1930 – 1 November 1995) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 1987 to 1990, Minister for Defence from 1989 to 1990, Minister for Agriculture from March 1982 to December 1982, Minister for Fisheries from 1977 to 1979, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1989, 1979 to 1981 and January 1973 to March 1973, Minister for Transport and Power from 1969 to 1973, Minister for Education from 1968 to 1969, Minister for Justice from 1964 to 1969, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands from 1961 to 1964. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1961 to 1973 and from 1977 to 1995. He served as a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel from 1957 to 1961 and 1973 to 1977. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Oireachtas from 1973 to 1977.[1]

He was a member of a family political dynasty; his father, Patrick Lenihan, and sister both followed him into Dáil Éireann; his sister Mary O'Rourke sitting in cabinet with him.[2] Two of his sons, Brian Lenihan Jnr and Conor Lenihan, became TDs in the 1990s. Brian Lenihan Jnr served as Minister for Finance and Conor was Minister of State in the government of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Two phrases associated with Lenihan Snr, No problem and On mature recollection, entered the Irish political lexicon.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "Brian Lenihan Snr". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  2. ^ "President leads tributes following death of minister Mary O'Rourke". RTÉ News. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.