Hugh Coveney

Hugh P. Coveney (Irish: Aodh Ó Caoibheanaigh; 20 July 1935 – 15 March 1998) was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician, and a noted yachtsman.

Hugh Coveney was born into one of Cork's prosperous "merchant prince" families in 1935. He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork, Clongowes Wood and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He worked as a chartered quantity surveyor before entering politics.

Political career

Coveney was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981 as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central. He lost his seat in the first general election of 1982 but regained it in the second election in the same year. He lost his seat again in 1987 and didn't contest the 1992 election. He was elected to the Dáil again in 1994 in a by-election.

He was first appointed to the Cabinet in 1994 under John Bruton. Coveney was appointed Minister for Defence & Minister for the Marine. However, he was demoted to a junior ministry the following year after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.

He died on March 14, 1998, after falling from a seaside cliff while out walking alone. His son, Simon Coveney, was elected to succeed him as TD in the resulting by-election and is currently also a Fine Gael MEP for Munster.

Yachting

Coveney's yacht Golden Apple of The Sun (designed by Cork-based designer Ron Holland) was a successful competitor in the Admiral's Cup in the 1970s.

A later 50-foot yacht Golden Apple was used by the family for the "Sail Chernobyl" project. The family sailed around the world to raise €650,000 for the Chernobyl Children's Project, a charity which offers assistance to children affected by the 1986 accident at the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

External links

• Chernobyl Children's Project
• Hugh Coveney's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database

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