Ciarán Cannon
Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office  3 August 2007
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Leader of the Progressive Democrats
In office 17 April 2008 – 24 March 2009
Preceded by	Mary Harney
Succeeded by	Noel Grealish (Interim)
County Councillor for Loughrea
In office June 2004 – August 2007
Succeeded by	Michael Maher
Born	19 September 1965 (1965-09-19) (age 44) Galway, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fine Gael Progressive Democrats (2003–09)

Ciarán Cannon (born 19 September 1965^[1]) is an Irish politician and former leader of the Progressive Democrats. He is a member of the 23rd Seanad Éireann for Fine Gael.^[2] He was nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad as a Progressive Democrats member in 2007.

He was elected to Galway County Council in 2004 to represent the Loughrea electoral area with 1,307 first preferences. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 general election for the Galway East constituency.^[3] He received 3,321 first preferences in the 2007 poll.

Before entering politics he was CEO (2002–06) and secretary (2000–02) of IHCPT – The Irish Pilgrimage Trust. In 2002 he was honoured as one of the Galway People of the Year.

Cannon was elected as Leader of the Progressive Democrats on 17 April 2008.^[4]

Cannon was the first leader of the Progressive Democrats to come from Seanad Éireann. At his first press conference as party leader Cannon stated that he believed "there was passion, commitment, talent and knowledge within the PDs' ranks to stage a big comeback".^{[citation needed]}

However, after speculation increased that Noel Grealish, one of the party's two TDs, intended to leave the party, he announced in September 2008 that a party conference would be held on 8 November 2008 at which he would recommend that the party disband.^[5] At that conference, the delegates present voted by 201-161 that the party should disband.^[6]

Cannon announced on the 24 March 2009 his decision to resign the leadership of the Progressive Democrats and on the same day he joined Fine Gael.^[7]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ciarán Cannon's page on the Fine Gael website

Party political offices
Preceded by Mary Harney	Leader of the Progressive Democrats 2008–2009	Succeeded by Noel Grealish (Interim)

v • d • e Leaders of the Progressive Democrats Desmond O'Malley (1985–1993) · Mary Harney (1993–2006) · Michael McDowell (2006–2007) · Mary Harney (2007–2008) · Ciarán Cannon (2008–2009)

v • d • e « 22nd Seanad «   Members of the 23rd Seanad Éireann (2007–)   » 24thSeanad » Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan (FF) • Leader of the Seanad Donie Cassidy (FF) Administrative Panel Mark Daly (FF) • Paschal Donohoe (FG) • Camillus Glynn (FF) • Tony Kett (FF) • Nicky McFadden (FG) • Brendan Ryan (Lab) • Diarmuid Wilson (FF) Agricultural Panel Paul Bradford (FG) • Paddy Burke (FG) • Peter Callanan (FF) • John Carty (FF) • Pearse Doherty (SF) • Alan Kelly (Lab) • Pat Moylan (FF) • Francis O'Brien (FF) • John Paul Phelan (FG) • Eugene Regan (FG) • Jim Walsh (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Cecilia Keaveney (FF) • Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) • Ann Ormonde (FF) • Liam Twomey (FG) • Alex White (Lab) Industrial and Commercial Panel Larry Butler (FF) • Paudie Coffey (FG) • Paul Coghlan (FG) • Dominic Hannigan (Lab) • Marc MacSharry (FF) • Denis O'Donovan (FF) • Joe O'Reilly (FG) • Kieran Phelan (FF) • Mary White (FF) Labour Panel Jerry Buttimer (FG) • Donie Cassidy (FF) • Maurice Cummins (FG) • Geraldine Feeney (FF) • Frances Fitzgerald (FG) • John Hanafin (FF) • Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) • Terry Leyden (FF) • Michael McCarthy (Lab) • Ned O'Sullivan (FF) • Phil Prendergast (Lab) National University of Ireland Rónán Mullen (Ind) • Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Feargal Quinn (Ind) University of Dublin Ivana Bacik (Ind, then Lab) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Dan Boyle (GP) • Martin Brady (FF) • Ivor Callely (FF) • Ciarán Cannon (PD, then FG) • Maria Corrigan (FF) • Déirdre de Búrca (GP) • John Ellis (FF) • Eoghan Harris (Ind) • Lisa McDonald (FF) • Brian Ó Domhnaill (FF) • Fiona O'Malley (PD, then Ind) Elected later 2009 James Carroll (FF) • Niall Ó Brolcháin (GP) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • GP: Green Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent • SF: Sinn Féin

This article about a politician from Ireland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e