Joe Sherlock

Joe Sherlock (26 September 1930^[1] – 10 September 2007) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 2002 to 2007, 1987 to 1992 and 1981 to 1982. He was a Senator for the Labour Panel from 1993 to 1997.^[2]

Joe Sherlock
Sherlock, circa 2002
Teachta Dála
In office May 2002 – May 2007
In office February 1987 – November 1992
In office June 1981 – November 1982
Constituency	Cork East
Senator
In office 17 February 1993 – 17 September 1997
Constituency	Labour Panel
Personal details
Born	(1930-09-26)26 September 1930 Kildorrery, County Cork, Ireland
Died	10 September 2007(2007-09-10) (aged 76) Cork, Ireland
Political party	Labour Party
Other political affiliations	Sinn Féin Workers' Party Democratic Left
Spouse	Ellen Spillane
Children	3, including Seán

Biography

Sherlock was born in Kildorrery, County Cork, in 1930. He was educated at the local national school. He took part in the IRA's Border Campaign as a young man, which resulted in him being imprisoned in Mountjoy Prison for six months.^[3] However, following the failure of the campaign, he endorsed the IRA's and Sinn Féin's move towards social activism and participating in politics.^[4] He worked at the local sugar factory for 18 years, and first held political office in 1967, when he was elected to Mallow Urban District Council as a Sinn Féin representative. During the split in Sinn Féin in 1970, Sherlock remained with the "Official" wing of the movement. In 1974, he was elected to Cork County Council. He served as Chairperson of Mallow UDC.^[5] He held both seats until the ending of the dual mandate in 2003. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party TD.

Sherlock was re-elected at the February 1982 general election, but lost his seat at the November 1982 general election. Despite the loss of his seat, he continued to be active in local politics. He was elected to the Dáil again at the 1987 and 1989 general elections, but lost his seat at the 1992 general election. Joining the new Democratic Left party, he was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1993 (as part of an election pact with the Progressive Democrats),^[6] serving in the upper house until 1997. He failed to be elected to the Dáil again at the 1997 general election, but eventually regained his seat after ten years at the 2002 general election.^[7]

In July 2005, Sherlock announced that he would not be standing again in the next general election. His son Seán Sherlock, then a member of both Cork County Council and Mallow Town Council, was elected at the 2007 general election to succeed him.^[8]

He died on 10 September 2007, after a short illness.^[8]

References

1. "Sherlock cut age by five years for election". Irish Examiner. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
2. "Joe Sherlock". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
3. "A man 'who cared more for people than politics'". Irish Times. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
4. "Parties unite in tribute to former TD Joe Sherlock". Irish Times. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
5. "Sherlock for Cork North East", United Irishman, September 1979.
6. Chapter 10 The Subterranean Election of the Seanad Archived 13 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine Michael Gallagher and Liam Weeks UCC
7. "Joe Sherlock". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
8. "Former Labour TD Joe Sherlock dies, aged 71". Irish Examiner. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2024.

External links

• Statement by Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore following Joe Sherlock's death – 13 September 2007