Donie Cassidy

Daniel "Donie" Cassidy (born 15 September 1945) is an Irish businessman and Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a member of the 23rd Seanad Éireann, elected at the 2007 election.^[1] He is a former Teachta Dála (TD) who represented the Westmeath constituency from 2002 to 2007.

Cassidy was born in Castlepollard in County Westmeath. He came to prominence in Ireland through the showband scene. A saxophone player with Jim Tobin and the Firehouse, he moved into showbusiness management. He was the manager of Foster & Allen, a popular singing duo whose enjoyed success inside and outside of Ireland.

Early life and politics

He first became involved in politics in 1982 when he was elected as a Fianna Fáil Senator on the Labour Panel. He was a member of Westmeath County Council from 1985 until 2003 at which point he resigned from the council due to the abolition of the dual mandate. He is also noted for wearing a toupee.

Cassidy was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Westmeath constituency at the 2002 general election, taking the seat of sitting TD and Government Minister Mary O'Rourke.^[2] This created a rift between the two politicians and Cassidy lost his seat to O'Rourke at the 2007 general election when both candidates contested the Longford-Westmeath constituency. The fact that Cassidy lost most of his home base of Castlepollard and North of Westmeath due to the redrafting of the constituency did not help him. On 22 June 2007 Cassidy was nominated by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to Seanad Éireann and created Leader of the Seanad for the remaining weeks of the 22nd Seanad's existence. Cassidy was subsequently elected to the Labour Panel at the 2007 Seanad general election. He is currently Leader of the Seanad.

Business interests

Cassidy owns two Dublin hotels and has another on the former site of the National Wax Museum, which he also owned. He also owns Celtic Note, a specialist Irish music store on Dublins Nassau Street and since 1984 has had the franchise to sell CD's and DVD's at Dublin Airport . He also owns several buildings in Mullingar. His other interests include record and music publishing companies. He owns the publishing rights to many well known songs such as 'Grace' and 'My Lovely Rose of Clare'.

In a debate on 10 April 2008, he stated the following about house prices in Ireland: "We have a duty to tell first-time house buyers, young couples with no previous experience, that there is unbelievable value in the marketplace today. It will not last forever. It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. I offer the House the benefit of my experience and my opinion which is all any Member can do. I will remind the House, perhaps in 12 or 18 months, when prices have again increased by 25% or 30%, that they were told this by the Leader of the House on this historic day, the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement."^[3] In the event, house prices in the first quarter of 2009 were 17% lower than a year earlier.^[4]

References

External links

• Donie Cassidy's page on the Fianna Fáil website

v • d • e « 22nd Seanad «   Members of the 23rd Seanad Éireann (2007–)   » 24thSeanad » Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan (FF) • Leader of the Seanad Donie Cassidy (FF) Administrative Panel Mark Daly (FF) • Paschal Donohoe (FG) • Camillus Glynn (FF) • Tony Kett (FF) • Nicky McFadden (FG) • Brendan Ryan (Lab) • Diarmuid Wilson (FF) Agricultural Panel Paul Bradford (FG) • Paddy Burke (FG) • Peter Callanan (FF) • John Carty (FF) • Pearse Doherty (SF) • Alan Kelly (Lab) • Pat Moylan (FF) • Francis O'Brien (FF) • John Paul Phelan (FG) • Eugene Regan (FG) • Jim Walsh (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Cecilia Keaveney (FF) • Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) • Ann Ormonde (FF) • Liam Twomey (FG) • Alex White (Lab) Industrial and Commercial Panel Larry Butler (FF) • Paudie Coffey (FG) • Paul Coghlan (FG) • Dominic Hannigan (Lab) • Marc MacSharry (FF) • Denis O'Donovan (FF) • Joe O'Reilly (FG) • Kieran Phelan (FF) • Mary White (FF) Labour Panel Jerry Buttimer (FG) • Donie Cassidy (FF) • Maurice Cummins (FG) • Geraldine Feeney (FF) • Frances Fitzgerald (FG) • John Hanafin (FF) • Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) • Terry Leyden (FF) • Michael McCarthy (Lab) • Ned O'Sullivan (FF) • Phil Prendergast (Lab) National University of Ireland Rónán Mullen (Ind) • Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Feargal Quinn (Ind) University of Dublin Ivana Bacik (Ind) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Dan Boyle (GP) • Martin Brady (FF) • Ivor Callely (FF) • Ciarán Cannon (PD) • Maria Corrigan (FF) • Déirdre de Búrca (GP) • John Ellis (FF) • Eoghan Harris (Ind) • Lisa McDonald (FF) • Brian Ó Domhnaill (FF) • Fiona O'Malley (PD) Elected later 2009 James Carroll (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • GP: Green Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent • SF: Sinn Féin

v • d • e « 21st Seanad «   Members of the 22nd Seanad Éireann (2002–2007)   » 23rd Seanad » Cathaoirleach Rory Kiely (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad Mary O'Rourke (FF) Administrative Panel Timmy Dooley (FF) • Frank Feighan (FG) • Camillus Glynn (FF) • Tony Kett (FF) • Joe McHugh (FG) • Joanna Tuffy (Lab) • Diarmuid Wilson (FF) Agricultural Panel Paul Bradford (FG) • Paddy Burke (FG) • Ulick Burke (FG) • Peter Callanan (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Martin Mansergh (FF) • Francis O'Brien (FF) • Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) • John Paul Phelan (FG) • Eamon Scanlon (FF) • Jim Walsh (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Noel Coonan (FG) • Brian Hayes (FG) • Paschal Mooney (FF) • Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) • Ann Ormonde (FF) Industrial and Commercial Panel James Bannon (FG) • Eddie Bohan (FF) • Paul Coghlan (FG) • Margaret Cox (Ind) • Marc MacSharry (FF) • Derek McDowell (Lab) • Kieran Phelan (FF) • Sheila Terry (FG) • Mary White (FF) Labour Panel Fergal Browne (FG) • Maurice Cummins (FG) • Brendan Daly (FF) • Geraldine Feeney (FF) • Michael Finucane (FG) • Liam Fitzgerald (FF) • John Hanafin (FF) • Jim Higgins (FG) • Terry Leyden (FF) • Don Lydon (FF) • Michael McCarthy (Lab) National University of Ireland Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Feargal Quinn (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Lab) University of Dublin Mary Henry (Ind) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Cyprian Brady (FF) • Michael Brennan (PD) • John Dardis (PD) • Maurice Hayes (Ind) • Brendan Kenneally (FF) • Michael P. Kitt (FF) • John Minihan (PD) • Tom Morrissey (PD) • Pat Moylan (FF) • Mary O'Rourke (FF) • Kate Walsh (PD) Nominated later May 2007 Colm O'Gorman (PD) • June 2007 Donie Cassidy (FF) • Chris Wall (FF) • Seán Dorgan (FF) • Peter Sands (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent

v • d • e « 20th Seanad «   Members of the 21st Seanad Éireann (1997–2002) » 22nd Seanad » Cathaoirleach Brian Mullooly (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad Donie Cassidy (FF) Administrative Panel Fintan Coogan, Jnr (FG) • Joe Costello (Lab) • Joe Doyle (FG) • Michael Finneran (FF) • Camillus Glynn (FF) • Tony Kett (FF) • Fergus O'Dowd (FG) Agricultural Panel Paddy Burke (FG) • Peter Callanan (FF) • John Connor (FG) • Avril Doyle (FG) • Tom Hayes (FG) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Patrick McGowan (FF) • Pat Moylan (FF) • Francis O'Brien (FF) • Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) • Jim Walsh (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Maurice Manning (FG) • Paschal Mooney (FF) • Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) • Ann Ormonde (FF) • Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) Industrial and Commercial Panel Eddie Bohan (FF) • Ernie Caffery (FG) • Paul Coghlan (FG) • Liam T. Cosgrave (FG) • Margaret Cox (FF) • William Farrell (FF) • Pat Gallagher (Lab) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Denis O'Donovan (FF) Labour Panel Donie Cassidy (FF) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Liam Fitzgerald (FF) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Mary Jackman (FG) • Dan Kiely (FF) • Don Lydon (FF) • Jarlath McDonagh (FG) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Therese Ridge (FG) • Seán Ryan (Lab) National University of Ireland Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Feargal Quinn (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind) University of Dublin Mary Henry (Ind) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Enda Bonner (FF) • Frank Chambers (FF) • John Dardis (PD) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Dermot Fitzpatrick (FF) • Jim Gibbons, Jnr (PD) • Edward Haughey (FF) • Maurice Hayes (Ind) • Helen Keogh (PD) • Ann Leonard (FF) • Máirín Quill (PD) Elected or nominated later 1998 John Cregan (FF) • 2001 M. J. Nolan (FF) • 2000 Seán Ó Fearghaíl (FF) • Jim Glennon (FF) • 2002 Martin Mackin (FF) • Mary O'Rourke (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent

v • d • e « 19th Seanad «   Members of the 20th Seanad Éireann (1993–1997) » 21st Seanad » Cathaoirleach Seán Fallon (FF) (1993–95) • Liam Naughten (FG) (1995–96) • Brian Mullooly (FF) (1996) • Liam T. Cosgrave (FG) (1996–97) Leader of the Seanad G. V. Wright (FF) (1993–94) • Maurice Manning (FG) 1994–97) Administrative Panel Louis Belton (FG) • Joe Doyle (FG) • Tom Enright (FG) • Michael Finneran (FF) • Michael O'Kennedy (FF) • Jan O'Sullivan (Lab) • Dick Roche (FF) Agricultural Panel Paddy Burke (FG) • Michael Calnan (Lab) • Brendan Daly (FF) • Michael D'Arcy (FG) • John Dardis (PD) • John V. Farrelly (FG) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Patrick McGowan (FF) • Liam Naughten (FG) • Francis O'Brien (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Mary Kelly (Lab) • Maurice Manning (FG) • Paschal Mooney (FF) • Ann Ormonde (FF) • Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) Industrial and Commercial Panel Cathy Honan (PD) • Eddie Bohan (FF) • Liam T. Cosgrave (FG) • Sean Fallon (FF) • William Farrell (FF) • Ann Gallagher (Lab) • Michael Howard (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Gerry Reynolds (FG) Labour Panel Donie Cassidy (FF) • Bill Cotter (FG) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Frank Fahey (FF) • Dan Kiely (FF) • Joe Sherlock (Lab) • Don Lydon (FF) • Sean Maloney (Lab) • Jarlath McDonagh (FG) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Dan Neville (FG) National University of Ireland Joe Lee (Ind) • Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Feargal Quinn (Ind) University of Dublin Mary Henry (Ind) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Sean Byrne (FF) • Bill Cashin (Lab) • Brian Crowley (FF) • Brian Hillery (FF) • Billy Kelleher (FF) • Pat Magner (Lab) • Marian McGennis (FF) • Jim Townsend (Lab) • Jack Wall (Lab) • Gordon Wilson (Ind) • G. V. Wright (FF) Elected or nominated later 1994 Edward Haughey (FF) • Michael Mulcahy (FF) • 1995 Brian Hayes (FG) • 1996 Sam McAughtry (Ind) • January 1997 Denis Naughten (FG) • July 1997 Tom Berkery (FG) • Niamh Bhreathnach (Lab) • Niamh Cosgrave (FG) • Michael Enright (DL) • Aidan O'Connor (FG) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • DL: Democratic Left • Ind: Independent

v • d • e « 18th Seanad «   Members of the 19th Seanad Éireann (1989–1993) » 20th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Seán Doherty (FF) (1989–92) • Seán Fallon (FF) (1992–93) Leader of the Seanad Mick Lanigan (FF) (1989–90) • Sean Fallon (FF) (1990–92) • G. V. Wright (FF) (1992–93) Administrative Panel Joe Costello (Lab) • Seán Doherty (FF) • Michael Finneran (FF) • Seán Haughey (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Patrick Kennedy (FG) • Tom Raftery (FG) Agricultural Panel Avril Doyle (FG) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Richard Hourigan (FG) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Seán McCarthy (FF) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Patrick McGowan (FF) • Liam Naughten (FG) • Francis O'Brien (FF) • Pat Upton (Lab) Cultural and Educational Panel Sean Byrne (FF) • Maurice Manning (FG) • Paschal Mooney (FF) • Joe O'Reilly (FG) • Éamon Ó Cuív (FF) Industrial and Commercial Panel Eddie Bohan (FF) • Richard Conroy (FF) • Liam T. Cosgrave (FG) • Sean Fallon (FF) • William Farrell (FF) • Denis Foley (FF) • Michael Howard (FG) • John Ryan (Lab) • Myles Staunton (FG) Labour Panel Donie Cassidy (FF) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Mary Jackman (FG) • Dan Kiely (FF) • Don Lydon (FF) • Larry McMahon (FG) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Dan Neville (FG) • Pól Ó Foighil (FG) • Batt O'Keeffe (FF) National University of Ireland John A. Murphy (Ind) • Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind) University of Dublin Carmencita Hederman (Ind) • David Norris (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Olga Bennett (FF) • Hugh Byrne (FF) • Martin Cullen (PD) • John Dardis (PD) • Helen Keogh (PD) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Tony McKenna (FF) • Denis O'Donovan (FF) • Donal Ormonde (FF) • Eoin Ryan, Jnr (FF) • G. V. Wright (FF) Elected or nominated later 1992 Brendan Daly (FF) • Pat Farrell (FF) • Terry Leyden (FF) • Dick Roche (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent

v • d • e « 17th Seanad «   Members of the 18th Seanad Éireann (1987–1989) » 19th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Tras Honan (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad Mick Lanigan (FF) Administrative Panel Katharine Bulbulia (FG) • Michael Doherty (FF) • Joe Doyle (FG) • Seán Haughey (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Patrick Kennedy (FG) • Mary Wallace (FF) Agricultural Panel Paul Bradford (FG) • John Connor (FG) • Michael Ferris (Lab) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Pádraic McCormack (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Patrick McGowan (FF) • Martin O'Toole (FF) • William Ryan (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Sean Byrne (FF) • Joachim Loughrey (FG) • Maurice Manning (FG) • Tony McKenna (FF) • Paschal Mooney (FF) Industrial and Commercial Panel Eddie Bohan (FF) • Jack Daly (FG) • Sean Fallon (FF) • Willie Farrell (FF) • Jack Fitzsimons (FF) • Phil Hogan (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Brian O'Shea (Lab) • Gerry Reynolds (FG) Labour Panel Donie Cassidy (FF) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Nuala Fennell (FG) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Brian Hillery (FF) • Peter Kelleher (FG) • Dan Kiely (FF) • Don Lydon (FF) • Larry McMahon (FG) • Brian Mullooly (FF) National University of Ireland John A. Murphy (Ind) • Joe O'Toole (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind) University of Dublin David Norris (Ind) • Mary Robinson (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Séamus Cullimore (FF) • Éamon de Buitléar (Ind) • George Eogan (Ind) • Brian Friel (Ind) • John Magnier (Ind) • John Robb (Ind) • Tom McEllistrim (FF) • Jimmy Mulroy (FF) • Vivian O'Callaghan (FF) • John O'Connell (FF) • Nicholas O'Connor (FF) Elected or nominated later 1988: Tony Bromell (FF) • 1989: Michael Dawson (??) • Paul Kavanagh (??) • Frank McDonell (??) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • PD: Progressive Democrats • Ind: Independent •  ??: Unknown party

v • d • e « 16th Seanad «   Members of the 17th Seanad Éireann (1983–1987) » 18th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Leader of the Seanad James Dooge (FG) Administrative Panel Luke Belton (FG) • Katharine Bulbulia (FG) • Tras Honan (FF) • Patrick Kennedy (FG) • Michael Lynch (FF) • Martin O'Donoghue (FF) • Flor O'Mahony (Lab) Agricultural Panel Ulick Burke (FG) • John Ellis (FF) • Michael Ferris (Lab) • Richard Hourigan (FG) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Joseph Lennon (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Martin J. O'Toole (FF) • Michael Quealy (FG) • William Ryan (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Séamus de Brún (FF) • Brian Fleming (FG) • Joachim Loughrey (FG) • Helena McAuliffe-Ennis (Lab) • Michael Smith (FF) Industrial and Commercial Panel Timmy Conway (Lab) • Jack Daly (FG) • Sean Fallon (FF) • Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (FG) • Jack Fitzsimons (FF) • Michael Howard (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) Labour Panel Donie Cassidy (FF) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Jim Higgins (FG) • Brian Hillery (FF) • Peter Kelleher (FG) • Mark Killilea, Jnr (FF) • Larry McMahon (FG) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Andy O'Brien (FG) National University of Ireland James Dooge (FG) • Michael D. Higgins (Lab) • Brendan Ryan (Ind) University of Dublin Catherine McGuinness (Ind) • Mary Robinson (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach John Browne (FG) • John Connor (FG) • Jimmy Deenihan (FG) • Patrick Durcan (FG) • Brendan Howlin (Lab) • Christy Kirwan (Lab) • Pat Magner (Lab) • Stephen McGonagle (Ind) • Seán A. O'Leary (FG) • John Robb (Ind) • Bríd Rodgers (Ind) Nominated 1987 Nuala Fennell (FG) • Paddy O'Toole (FG) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • Ind: Independent

v • d • e « 15th Seanad «   Members of the 16th Seanad Éireann (1982–1983) » 17th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Tras Honan (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) Administrative Panel Luke Belton (FG) • Katharine Bulbulia (FG) • Sean Conway (FF) • Micheál Cranitch (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Billy Kenneally (FF) • Flor O'Mahony (Lab) Agricultural Panel Bernard Durkan (FG) • Michael Ferris (Lab) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Richard Hourigan (FG) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Joseph Lennon (FG) • John Mannion, Jnr (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Martin O'Toole (FF) • William Ryan (FF) • Michael Smith (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Séamus de Brún (FF) • Joachim Loughrey (FG) • Timothy McAuliffe (Lab) • Mary O'Rourke (FF) • Madeleine Taylor (FG) Industrial and Commercial Panel Deirdre Bolger (FG) • Timmy Conway (Lab) • Jack Daly (FG) • Sean Fallon (FF) • William Farrell (FF) • Michael Howard (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) Labour Panel Monica Barnes (FG) • Toddie Byrne (FG) • Donie Cassidy (FF) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Dick Dowling (FG) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Anthony Herbert (FF) • Mark Killilea, Jnr (FF) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Maurice O'Connell (FG) National University of Ireland James Dooge (FG) • John A. Murphy (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind) University of Dublin Mary Robinson (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) • Trevor West (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Paudge Brennan (FF) • Flor Crowley (FF) • Camilla Hannon (FF) • James Larkin (Ind) • Seamus Mallon (Ind) • P. J. Mara (FF) • Bernard McGlinchey (FF) • M. J. Nolan (FF) • Ned O'Keeffe (FF) • John Robb (Ind) • G. V. Wright (FF) Nominated December 1982 Aidan Eames (??) • Seán O'Connor (??) • Frank Wall (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • Ind: Independent •  ??: Unknown party