William O'Leary (Irish politician)

William O'Leary (4 October 1894 – 27 November 1955) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.[1]

The son of a farmer from Snipefield, Ardfert, County Kerry.[2] He became a farmer and vintner at Irremore, Lixnaw.[3] During the Irish War of Independence, he was Battalion Engineer for the 2nd Battalion, Kerry No.1 Brigade. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty he fought on the anti-treaty side in the Irish Civil War.[4]

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency at the June 1927 general election.[5] He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election.[6] He did not contest the 1932 general election.[5]

O'Leary continued his activity in politics outside of parliament. He had been elected to Kerry County Council in 1928, and held his seat until his death.[3] [1] In 1937 he was elected to Fianna Fáil's National Executive.[7]

When the Agricultural Wages Board was formed in 1937 he was named as chairman,[8] a post he held until his death.

In his later years he lived in Clontarf, Dublin. He died at a nursing home in Rathmines on 27 November 1955, aged 61,[9][10] and was buried in Mulhuddart Cemetery.[4] [1]