Ian McGarvey

Ian McGarvey (born July 1929) is a former footballer and former politician. He was a member of Donegal County Council, representing the Letterkenny electoral area.

Due to his age (his political career peaking while an octogenarian) he is often portrayed as an underdog, "They're always writing me off. I don't worry about that", he once said after being re-elected. He has a special interest in the elderly, and has attracted attention after describing cuts to their care as a form of "euthanasia". He did a noteworthy dance after being re-elected in 2014.

McGarvey spent a year working in Germany in 1960.

Aged 82, McGarvey became Ireland's oldest Mayor and Donegal County Council's first independent Mayor in June 2013, succeeding Frank McBrearty Jnr. Aged 85, he became Ireland's oldest ever general election candidate at the 2016 election. Having earlier been Mayor of County Donegal, McGarvey became Mayor of Letterkenny in June 2018 - he succeeded either Gerry McMonagle of Sinn Féin As Mayor of Letterkenny, McGarvey - at this stage aged 89 - returned to Germany for the first time since 1960, visiting the Thuringian twin town of Rudolstadt and having a vine there dedicated to him and his wife Marjorie and a plaque erected at a vineyard.

He retired from politics in February 2023. His nephew Pauric McGarvey was co-opted to Donegal County Council to replace him.