About Tom O'Donnell
Lived 1926 – 2020 (aged 94). Tom O'Donnell was an Irish politician and journalist.
Career He was born in Charleville, County Cork, in 1926. He was educated at the Crescent College, Salesian College and University College Dublin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked as a teacher and a voluntary community activist before becoming involved in politics.
O'Donnell was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick East. He was Opposition Front Bench spokesperson on Transport, Power and Tourism from 1969 to 1973. He served in the government on one occasion in the National Coalition under Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave between 1973 and 1977 as Minister for the Gaeltacht.
He married Helen O'Connor from Sligo in 1984; they have one son. His uncle Richard O'Connell was a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Limerick from 1924 to 1932, and his nephew Kieran O'Donnell is a Fine Gael TD for Limerick City.
O'Donnell died in October 2020 at the age of 94.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Tom O'Donnell?
Irish Fine Gael politician (1926–2020)
When was Tom O'Donnell born?
Tom O'Donnell was born on 30 August 1926 in County Cork, Bulgaden.
When did Tom O'Donnell die?
Tom O'Donnell died on 8 October 2020 in Ballysheedy West.
What was Tom O'Donnell's occupation?
Tom O'Donnell was a politician and journalist.
What nationality was Tom O'Donnell?
Tom O'Donnell was Irish.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Tom O'Donnell (politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tom O'Donnell. https://biography.guide/tom-o-donnell/
MLA: "Tom O'Donnell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tom-o-donnell/.
Chicago: "Tom O'Donnell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tom-o-donnell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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