James Parkinson (Irish politician)

James Parkinson
Senator
In office
27 April 1938 – 31 July 1947
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
Senator
In office
11 December 1922 – 29 May 1936
Personal details
Born(1869-11-15)15 November 1869
County Waterford, Ireland
Died16 September 1948(1948-09-16) (aged 78)
County Kildare, Ireland
Political party
SpouseMargaret Brophy
Children8
Alma materRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons

James Joseph Parkinson (15 November 1869 – 16 September 1948) was an Irish politician. He was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1922 to 1936 and from 1938 to 1947. A veterinary surgeon, racehorse trainer, bloodstock breeder and company director, he was first elected to the Free State Seanad as a Cumann na nGaedheal member in 1922.[1] From 1938 onwards, he was elected by the Cultural and Educational Panel as a Fine Gael member.[1] He resigned from the Seanad on 31 July 1947 due to poor health.[2]

"J.J." Parkinson was born at Tramore, County Waterford, and qualified as a veterinary surgeon (MRCVS) in London.[3] From 1892 he briefly practised on the Curragh but soon moved into racing. After a short spell in the United States he settled at Maddenstown Lodge also on the Curragh which remained his home for forty-five years.[3] He trained the winners of 2,577 races in Ireland, including two in the Irish Derby before his death after several years of ill-health at Maddenstown Lodge.[4][5][6] Parkinson's total of race wins by a trainer was a record in Ireland until beaten by Dermot Weld in 2000, and he was champion trainer in Ireland by number of races won 23 times between 1904 and 1939.[7]

  1. ^ a b "James Parkinson". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Resignation of Senator". Seanad Éireann – Volume 34. 31 July 1947. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Rouse, Paul. "Parkinson, James Joseph ('J. J.')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  4. ^ Guy StJohn Williams and Francis P M Hyland, The Irish Derby 1866–1979, London, J A Allen, 1980, pp. 152–154
  5. ^ Williams and Hyland, Who was Who in Irish Racing, Monasterevan, Co.Kildare, Daletta Press, 2019, pp. 355–356
  6. ^ Belfast Newsletter, 16 September 1948, p.4
  7. ^ "Despite some setbacks, James Joseph Parkinson was a true titan of the Turf". The Kerryman. 18 August 2000. Retrieved 3 March 2021.