Denis Gallagher

Denis Gallagher (29 December 1922 – 3 November 2001) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and community activist who served as Minister for the Gaeltacht on two occasions, from 1977 to 1979 and again briefly in 1982. Born in Currane, on Achill Island in County Mayo, and closely associated throughout his life with the neighbouring community of Achill Island, he trained as a national school teacher before becoming political active in Irish Republican circles in the 1950s, first with Clann na Poblachta and then Sinn Féin. Gallagher was successfully elected to Mayo County Council in 1967 as a member of Fianna Fáil. He was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Mayo West constituency at the 1973 Irish general election, becoming Achill's first TD, and went on to hold the seat until his retirement in 1989.

Early life Denis Gallagher was born on 29 December 1922 in Currane, on Clew Bay and facing Achill Island, County Mayo, within the civil parish of Achill though not on the island itself. They lived in Keel West before moving to Cloughmore, Achill, in 1951, and then to Currane in 1960 after his appointment as principal of the local national school. As minister, Gallagher took a close interest in Irish language affairs, touring the Gaeltacht regions energetically and winning over sceptics with his command of the language.

His funeral, held in Achill, was among the largest witnessed in the parish, with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, among those in attendance. Other mourners included the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Dr Tom Moffett; the Minister of State with responsibility for Arts, Heritage and the Islands, Mary Coughlan; two former European Commissioners, Pádraig Flynn and Ray MacSharry; former Connacht-Ulster MEP Mark Killilea Jnr; and former West Mayo TD and Senator Martin O'Toole. The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, presided at the funeral Mass, with the main celebrant Father Patrick Gilligan, PP, Achill, assisted by one of Gallagher's brothers, Father Michael Gallagher. In his homily, Father Gilligan praised Gallagher for unifying the Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht parts of the parish into a single, cohesive voice for development. He was buried in Polranny cemetery, Achill; the main mourners were his widow, Hannah, and their children.

He was survived by his wife Hannah; 5 sons and 7 daughters. He was predeceased by his brother Patrick.