Joe McCartin

Joe McCartin
Member of the European Parliament
In office 7 June 1979 – 24 June 2004
Constituency	Connacht–Ulster
Teachta Dála
In office November 1982–February 1987
In office June 1981–February 1982
Constituency	Sligo–Leitrim
Senator
In office 1 June 1973 – 11 June 1981
Constituency	Agricultural Panel
Personal details
Born	John Joseph McCartin (1939-04-24)24 April 1939 Ballinamore,County Leitrim,Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse	Ann Clarke ​ (m.1972)​
Children	2
Education	St Patrick's College, Cavan

John Joseph McCartin(born 24 April 1939) is an Irish formerFine Gaelpolitician who served as aMember of the European Parliament(MEP) for theConnacht–Ulsterconstituency from 1979 to 2004. He served as aTeachta Dála(TD) for theSligo–Leitrimconstituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1982 to 1987. He also served as aSenatorfor theAgricultural Panelfrom 1973 to 1981.

Early life

He was born at Aughnasheelan,Ballinamore,County Leitrim,the son of small farmer Francis McCartin and his wife Annie Kate Lohan. He was educated at Drumbibe National School, Aughnasheelan andSt Patrick's College, Cavan.In 1972, he married Ann Clarke; they had two children. As a young farmer, McCartin was awarded many national prizes for progressive and efficient farming. He founded the McCartin Bros group of companies with his brother Tommy; these had interests in Structural Steel, Clothing Manufacture, Milling, Forestry, Pig Production, and Dairy/Beef Farming. They quickly became the largest employers in Leitrim.

Political career

McCartin joinedFine Gaelas a teenager and became secretary of the Ballinamore District Executive at the age of seventeen. He served as county secretary ofMacra na Feirmeand was a member of its national executive. He was Chair of the fundraising committee which established the first rehabilitation centre in the north-west of Ireland. He was elected toLeitrim County Councilin 1967. In 1973, he was elected toSeanad Éireannas a senator for theAgricultural Panel,and after his re-election to the Seanad in 1977 he was electedLeas-Chathaoirleachof the14th Seanad.

He was elected to theEuropean Parliamentin 1979 for theConnacht–Ulsterconstituency and to theDáilat the1981 general electionrepresenting theSligo–Leitrimconstituency.He served as secretary of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, and party spokesperson for Agriculture. He lost his seat at theFebruary 1982 general electionbut regained it at theNovember 1982 general election.He lost it at the subsequent1987 general electionand did not stand in any further Dáil elections.

In the European Parliament, McCartin was elected vice chair of the parliament's Budgetary Control committee. He was the first Irish person ever to hold the position of vice president of theEuropean People's Party.He also served on the parliament's Agriculture and Fisheries committees. He was Joint Auditor of theEuropean People's Party,along with formerTaoiseachJohn Bruton.He retired from the European Parliament in 2004.

In 1974, he was elected Leitrim Person of the Year. In 1977, he was named as one of Ireland's "People of the Year" for "bringing hope to a depressed area."

In 2004, he was presented with the Schuman Medal at a meeting of the European Christian Democrats inBudapest,for "his outstanding contribution to peace and unity in Europe and for the promotion of the human values of mankind".

External links

• Personal profile of Joe McCartinin theEuropean Parliament's database of members