Jack Murphy (Irish Politician)

Jack Murphy (Irish Politician)

(John) Jack Murphy (1920 – 11 July 1984) was an Irish politician and the first unemployed person ever elected to a national legislature. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent Teachta Dála (TD) at the 1957 general election for the Dublin South–Central constituency.

Murphy was a former member of the Irish Republican Army who had been interned in the 1940s. At the time of his election, he was an unemployed carpenter. He was the candidate of the Unemployed Protest Committee (UPC), which had been formed on 12 January 1957. He resigned his seat on 13 May 1958 in protest at the indifference of the main political parties to the plight of the unemployed. After his resignation he subsequently emigrated with his family to Canada but returned to Ireland in 1964. He died on 11 July 1984.

Read more about Jack Murphy (Irish Politician):  Early Years, Protest Committee, 1957 General Election, The 16th Dáil, Hunger Strike, Resignation, Emigration To Canada, Canada, Return To Ireland, Accusations

Famous quotes containing the words jack and/or murphy:

    This is the maiden all forlorn
    That milked the cow with the crumpled horn
    Mother Goose (fl. 17th–18th century. The House That Jack Built (l. 22–23)

    Narcotics have been systematically scapegoated and demonized. The idea that anyone can use drugs and escape a horrible fate is an anathema to these idiots. I predict that in the near future, right wingers will use drug hysteria as a pretext to set up an international police apparatus.
    Gus Van Sant, U.S. screenwriter and director, and Dan Yost. Father Tom Murphy (William S. Burroughs)