Quick Facts
Biography
Daniel "Dan" Kiely (born 10 May 1940) is an auctioneer and Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a senator for many years and also served on Kerry County Council from the 1980s through to the 2000s (decade). Dan Kiely successfully took a Case to the Supreme Court for errors made in the election count in the 2014 Listowel County Council Election. The Five Judges issued a full recount for the first time in the history of the Irish State.
Born in Tarbert, County Kerry, Kiely was elected in 1981 to the 15th Seanad, on the Labour Panel. At the February 1982 general election, he stood unsuccessfully for Dáil Éireann in the Kerry North constituency. This was the first of three successive defeats in Dáil elections: he also contested both the November 1982 and 1981 general elections without winning a seat.
Kiely did not contest the 1982 Seanad election, and failed to regain his seat when he stood again at the 1983 election. He was re-elected at the 1987 election to the 18th Seanad, and held the seat until a further defeat at the but was defeated at the 2002 Seanad.
He was also a member of Kerry County Council for the Listowel electoral area, but was defeated at the 2004 local elections. He was co-opted to the Council in 2007 to replace Ned O'Sullivan who was elected to Seanad Éireann. Kiely was not re-elected to Kerry County Council at the 2009 local elections.