George Edward Russell (9 April 1912 – 28 November 2004) was an Irish politician and company director.[1]
Ted Russell | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
| In office 5 November 1969 – 27 October 1977 | |
| Constituency | Industrial and Commercial Panel |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office March 1957 – October 1961 | |
| Constituency | Limerick East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Edward Russell 9 April 1912 Limerick, Ireland |
| Died | 28 November 2004 (aged 92) Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | |
| Spouse |
Dervilla Gleeson (m. 1938) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education |
|
Early life
editHe was born 9 April 1912 in the family home at 4 Moyola Terrace, Limerick, the eldest of two sons and a daughter of Matthew John Russell and his wife Mary (née Rohan). His grandfather George established a bakery in Limerick in 1870 and represented Irishtown ward on Limerick City Council. His father continued the business and in the 1920s acquired control of Dan O'Connor Ltd, a corn and provisions merchant founded in 1848 by Ted's granduncle.[2]
Russell was educated first at Crescent College in Limerick, and for a short time Mount St Benedict's near Gorey; and at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.[3]
From 1930 he played rugby for Bohemians RFC as a second‑row forward, being captain for two seasons (1935–1937), and maintained a lifelong association with Bohemians, serving as club president in 1967–1968. He was selected for Munster Rugby during 1936–1938. In 1938 he had a final trial for Ireland and might have achieved international honours but for the outbreak of World War II, though he believed that he was too lightweight.[2]
Politics
editRussell first stood for election as a Clann na Poblachta candidate at the 1948 general election but was not elected. He was also an unsuccessful candidate at the 1951 general election and the 1952 Limerick East by-election. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as an Independent Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick East constituency at the 1957 general election.[4] He lost his seat at the 1961 general election.[5] He was elected to the 12th Seanad in 1969 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and was re-elected to the 13th Seanad in 1973. He was defeated at the 1977 Seanad election. He unsuccessfully contested the 1965 general election as a Fine Gael candidate.[5]
He was a longtime member of Limerick Corporation, elected first as an independent (1942) and later as a member of Gluais Linn (1945), Clann na Poblachta (1950, 1955), and Fine Gael (1960, 1967, 1974, 1979).[6] He served as Mayor of Limerick on five occasions (1954–1957, 1967–1968 and 1976–1977). He was made a Freeman of the city in 1995.[7] and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Limerick in 2002.[8]
He was the President of the Limerick Chamber from 1948 to 1950.[9]
Later life
editRussell was active in the campaign for the establishment of a university in Limerick, which led to the establishment of the National Institute for Higher Education (later the University of Limerick) in 1972.[10]
In 1938, he married Dervilla Gleeson of Nenagh, and they had four children.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Seanad Éireann - Volume 178 - 2 December 2004 - Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy". Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
- ^ a b c Clavin, Terry. "Russell, George Edward (Ted)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Public-spirited Limerick merchant prince". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "George E. Russell". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ a b "George Russell". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ Cusack, John; Hanley, Liam; Lee, David; Jacobs, Debbie. "Limerick Municipal Elections 1841–2009" (MS Word). Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Eugene Hogan (5 December 2004). "Ted Russell". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "JP McManus receives honorary doctorate". RTÉ News. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Potter, Matthew; Slater, Sharon (2015). Limerick's Merchants, Traders and Shakers. Limerick: Limerick Chamber. ISBN 9780953835416.
- ^ Pat Kearney (1990). "Towards a University for Limerick 1934–1972" (PDF). Old Limerick Journal (27): 45–56.