James O'Reilly (Irish politician)
James O'Reilly, also known as Seamas O'Reilly, (1916–1992) was a nationalist politician in Ireland.
O'Reilly was a farmer and an activist in the Nationalist Party and was elected to Kilkeel Rural District Council. He stood unsuccessfully for the Irish Anti-Partition League in the 1948 Armagh by-election.[1]
O'Reilly was elected in the 1958 Northern Ireland general election, representing Mourne, holding the seat until the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1972.[2] He became prominent in the 1960s, when he tried to have Orange Order parades through Kilkeel rerouted.[1]
From February to April 1966 and February 1967 to February 1969, he was the deputy chair of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons.[2] After the 1969 Northern Ireland general election, he served as the whip of the , before succeeding Roderick O'Connor as Nationalist Party whip. He was invited to join the Social Democratic and Labour Party on its formation, but chose to remain a Nationalist Party member.[1]
O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in South Down at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election.[1]
References[]
- 1916 births
- 1992 deaths
- Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1958–1962
- Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1962–1965
- Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1965–1969
- Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1969–1973
- Nationalist Party (Ireland) members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
- Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for County Down constituencies