Neil Blaney - Early Political Career

Early Political Career

At the 1948 general election, Blaney was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Donegal East constituency in a by-election, caused by the death of his father from cancer. He also became a member of Donegal County Council. Upon his election Blaney was the youngest member of the Dáil. He remained on the backbenches for a number of years before he was one of a group of young party members handpicked by Seán Lemass to begin a re-organisation drive for the party following the defeat at the 1954 general election. Within the party Blaney gained fame by running the party's by-election campaigns throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He introduced the concept of cavalcades after his election victories in his constituency together with roadside bonfires. At the time this was an alien political concept in Ireland. Blaney also adopted wearing sunglasses, chewing gum and wearing bright ties and colourful suits. His dedicated bands of supporters earned the sobriquet, 'the Donegal Mafia', and succeeded in getting Desmond O'Malley and Gerry Collins elected to the Dáil.