Father of the Dáil

Template:Use dmy dates In Ireland, the term Father of the Dáil (Template:Langx^[1]) is an unofficial title applied to the current member of Dáil Éireann with the longest unbroken period of service in the Dail, regardless of their position. The 'Father' has no official role in the business of the House as the title is honorific.

On a number of occasions two or more men have shared the position of Father of the Dáil; there has never been a female holder of the title. However, the term "Mother of the Dáil" is used on occasion to refer to the current female member of Dáil Éireann with the longest unbroken period of service.^[2]

James Everett was joint Father of the Dáil at his death in 1967. Oliver J. Flanagan's death occurred two months after his retirement in 1987. Neil Blaney's death in 1995 occurred while he was Father of the Dáil.^[3]

The current Father of the Dáil is Willie O'Dea who was first elected to the Dáil at the February 1982 general election, while the current Mother of the Dáil is Mary Lou McDonald who was first elected at the 2011 general election.

Fathers of the Dáil

Name	Entered Dáil	Became Father	Left Dáil	Party
Frank Fahy	1918 election	4 February 1948	12 July 1953	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Éamon de Valera	1918 election	4 February 1948	23 June 1959	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Gerald Boland	1923 election	23 June 1959	4 October 1961	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
James Ryan			7 April 1965	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Patrick McGilligan			7 April 1965	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
James Everett			18 December 1967	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Thomas McEllistrim			18 June 1969	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Frank Aiken			28 February 1973	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Paddy Smith			5 July 1977	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Liam Cosgrave	1943 election	5 July 1977	11 June 1981	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Dan Spring			11 June 1981	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Oliver J. Flanagan			17 February 1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Neil Blaney	Dec. 1948 by-election	17 February 1987	8 November 1995	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Paddy Harte	1961 election	8 November 1995	6 June 1997	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Seán Treacy			6 June 1997	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Séamus Pattison			14 June 2007	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Enda Kenny^[4]	Nov. 1975 by-election	14 June 2007	14 January 2020	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Richard Bruton	Feb. 1982 election	14 January 2020	8 November 2024	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Willie O'Dea	Feb. 1982 election	14 January 2020	Incumbent	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell

Mothers of the Dáil

Name	Entered Dáil	Became Mother	Left Dáil	Party
Constance Markievicz	1918 election	14 December 1918	15 July 1927	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Constance Markievicz	1918 election	14 December 1918	15 July 1927	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Caitlín Brugha	1923 election	15 July 1927	15 September 1927	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll	1923 election	15 July 1927	24 January 1933	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Helena Concannon	1933 election	24 January 1933	1 July 1937	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Margaret Mary Pearse			1 July 1937	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Bridget Redmond			3 May 1952	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Bridget Redmond			3 May 1952	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Mary Reynolds Template:Efn	1932 election	3 May 1952	4 October 1961	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Mary Reynolds Template:Efn	1932 election	3 May 1952	4 October 1961	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Honor Crowley	Dec. 1945 by-election, Kerry South	4 October 1961	18 October 1966	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Celia Lynch	1954 election	18 October 1966	6 June 1977	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Joan Burke	Jul. 1964 by-election	6 June 1977	11 June 1981	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	Mar. 1975 by-election, Galway West	11 June 1981	6 June 1997	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
Mary Harney	1981 election	6 June 1997	25 February 2011	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
				REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
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Róisín Shortall	1992 election	25 February 2011	29 November 2024	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell
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Mary Lou McDonald	2011 election	29 November 2024	Incumbent	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell

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Father of the Dáil

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Fathers of the Dáil

Mothers of the Dáil

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