Peter J. Ward

Peter Joseph Ward (1 November 1891 – 6 January 1970) was an Irish lawyer and Sinn Féin (later Cumann na nGaedheal) politician in County Donegal. He served as a TD from 1918 until his resignation in 1924. He was also chairman of Donegal County Council after the 1920 local elections.

A native of Killybegs, Sinn Féin won 73 of the 105 seats in Ireland and established Dáil Éireann in January 1919, with its members known as Teachtaí Dála (TDs). Ward was one of 27 TDs present in the Mansion House, Dublin for the inaugural meeting on 21 January 1919. As Commandant of the South Donegal Brigade of the Irish Republican Army he was active in the Irish War of Independence and being "on the run" from, and later imprisoned by, the British authorities limited his participation as a TD. He was also elected as one of six Sinn Féin candidates returned unopposed for Donegal at the 1921 Irish election to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. and the ensuing by-election in November was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Denis McCullough. His legal work was in Killybegs and Donegal town.