Tom Gildea
Thomas Gildea (born September 1939) is an Irish former politician who was elected as an independent Teachta Dála (TD) at the 1997 general election.[1]
Tom Gildea | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1997 – May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Donegal South-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1939 (age 84) County Donegal, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Eilish Hegarty |
| Children | 1 |
A farmer representing Donegal South-West, he won popular local support for his campaign to legalise 'deflectors' which re-transmitted British television channels in rural areas, but which had been shut down in the wake of legal action by cable and MMDS operators.[2][3] He supported the Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats minority coalition government from 1997 to 2002.[4]
In the 1999 local elections, he was elected as a member of Donegal County Council for Glenties.[5] He did not contest the 2002 general election and retired from politics at the 2004 local elections.[5]
He was later Chairman of the National Community Television Association.
In July 2000, he married Eilish Hegarty.[6] They have one child.[4]
References
- "Thomas Gildea". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Poll predicts Gildea will lose seat". RTÉ News. 19 February 2002.
- There have been other notable single issue 'deflector' candidates who ran unsuccessfully in general elections elsewhere in the country — Dermot Kirwan representing the Waterford deflector groups ran in Waterford at the 1997 general election, while the 1992 general election saw Liam Hurley of South Coast Community TV standing in the Cork South-Central constituency.
- "Shy TD's unexpected outburst". Irish Independent. 23 November 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- "Tom Gildea". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Gildea surrenders his independent status in secret Donegal ceremony". The Irish Times. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 9 June 2023.