Michael Yeats

For those of a similar name, seeMichael Yates (disambiguation).

Michael Yeats
CathaoirleachofSeanad Éireann
In office 5 November 1969 – 3 January 1973
Preceded by	Liam Ó Buachalla
Succeeded by	Micheál Cranitch
Senator
In office 27 October 1977 – 12 March 1980
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
In office 5 November 1969 – 27 October 1977
Constituency	Cultural and Educational Panel
In office 23 June 1965 – 5 November 1969
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
In office 14 December 1961 – 23 June 1965
Constituency	Labour Panel
In office 14 August 1951 – 22 July 1954
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Member of the European Parliament
In office January 1973 – June 1979
Constituency	Oireachtas Delegation
Personal details
Born	(1921-08-22)22 August 1921 Thame,Oxfordshire,England
Died	3 January 2007(2007-01-03)(aged 85) Dublin,Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Gráinne Yeats
Parents	W. B. Yeats Georgie Hyde-Lees
Education	St Columba's College, Dublin
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin

Michael Butler Yeats(22 August 1921 – 3 January 2007) was an IrishbarristerandFianna Fáilpolitician.He served two periods as a member ofSeanad Éireann.

His father was the poetW. B. Yeats,who likewise served in the Seanad, and his mother wasGeorgie Hyde-Lees.His sisterAnne Yeatswas a painter and designer, as was his uncleJack Butler Yeats.Michael was educated atSt Columba's College, DublinandTrinity College Dublin,where he gained first class honours degree in history. He was an officer in theCollege Historical Society.He also qualified as a lawyer but did not practise.

He unsuccessfully stood for election toDáil Éireannat the1948 general electionand the1951 general electionfor theDublin South-Eastconstituency.Following the 1951 election, Yeats was nominated to the7th Seanadby theTaoiseachÉamon de Valera.He stood at the subsequent election in 1954 for the8th Seanadbut was not elected.

From 1961 to 1980 he was a member of Seanad Éireann. In 1961 he was elected to the10th Seanadby theLabour Panel.In 1965 he wasnominated by the TaoiseachSeán Lemassto the11th Seanad.In 1969 he was elected to the12th Seanadby theCultural and Educational Panel,and re-elected to the13th Seanadin 1973. In 1977, he was nominated by the TaoiseachJack Lynchto the14th Seanad.He resigned from the Seanad on 12 March 1980.

From 1969 to 1973, during the 12th Seanad, he served asCathaoirleach(chair).

While a senator, Yeats served as aMember of the European Parliamentfrom 1973 to 1979, being appointed to Ireland'sfirst,secondandthirddelegations. He stood at thefirst direct elections in 1979for theDublinconstituency but was not elected.He was Director General of the EEC Council of Ministers in Brussels in the 1980s.

He was married toGráinne Ní Éigeartaigh,a singer and Irish harpist. They had four children; three daughters and a son.

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

Sources

• Cast a Cold Eye(autobiography), Dublin: Blackwater Press,ISBN0-86121-968-6.