John Gormley
:
For the Canadian broadcaster and politician, see John Kenneth Gormley.John Gormley (born
August 4,
1959) is an
Irish Green Party politician. He is a
TD for
Dublin South East and is currently the party spokesperson on
Foreign Affairs,
Defence and
Health & Children, as well as serving as chairperson of the party.
Born in
Dublin John Gormley was educated in St. Munchin's College,
Limerick,
University College, Dublin and
Freiburg University,
Germany. He contested his first general election in
1989. In
1991 he was elected to
Dublin City Council and was
Lord Mayor of Dublin from
1994-
1995. In
1997 Gormley was elected to
Dáil Éireann for the first time - after the famous week-long re-count with
Michael McDowell, which he won by 27 votes. He retained his seat in the
2002 general election, increasing his vote substantially and this time taking the first seat.
He has held many positions in the Green Party including Campaign Director for the successful anti-smog campaign in the
1980s. He was elected to the newly-created post of Party
Cathaoirleach (chairperson) in 2002, and re-elected in late 2004 with 80% of the party vote. He is seen by many as the most influential figure within the Green Party, having proposed some of the major changes to the party structures such as the name change (from Green Alliance to Green Party) and the need to have a party leader.
He is an assiduous attender of residents' association meetings and stays in contact with his constituents through regular newsletters.
He lives in
Ringsend with his wife, Penny, and their son and daughter.