Early and Private Life
O'Dea was born in Limerick and raised in Kilteely, County Limerick. He was educated at the Patrician Brothers College in Ballyfin, County Laois, and University College Dublin where he studied law. He qualified as a barrister at King's Inns, Dublin. He has an accountancy qualification from the Institute of Certified Accountants. He worked as both a barrister and as an accountant before embarking on a career in politics. He also spent some time lecturing in the Law faculty in University College Dublin and in the University of Limerick.
O'Dea is married to Geraldine Kennedy. He writes regularly for the Sunday Independent and occasionally for other national newspapers.
Read more about this topic: Willie O'Dea
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