Patrick McKee

Patrick McKee (born 15 June 1988) is an Irish politician. He is a former member of Fianna Fáil and was a candidate for Renua Ireland in the 2015 Carlow-Kilkenny Dáil by-election.

McKee was born in June 1988. He attended secondary school at St Kieran's College until 2006, going on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Business from Waterford Institute of Technology in 2010. In 2011 he received a Bachelor of Laws degree from University College Cork. Since 2012 McKee has worked as a trainee solicitor at W.A. Smithwick & Son, Solicitors in Kilkenny. McKee publicly came out as a gay man in 2011 during an interview on local radio.

McKee's late grandfather Paddy Dollard was a respected Sinn Féin activist in Kilkenny. Dollard was a teacher in St Kierans College, Kilkenny City and spent time in Portlaoise Prison for IRA activity during the 1960s.

McKee's great granduncle Michael Moore was a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) of the British Army during World War One and was captured by German forces and sent to Limburg Prisoner of War Camp. Famously Sir Roger Casement visited the camp in an attempt to convince captured Irish soldiers to join his Irish Brigade and fight against the British once the war was over. Michael Moore would later give evidence against Sir Roger Casement during the infamous trial which led to Casements hanging for treason.

McKee joined Ógra Fianna Fáil in 2006 and established the Thomas Francis Meagher Cumann during his time in WIT. During his time in Waterford he worked closely with former Minister for Transport Martin Cullen TD.

McKee moved through the ranks of Fianna Fáil's youth wing, quickly holding positions both locally and nationally. He was elected Leinster representative on Ógra Fianna Fáil's National Youth Committee in 2011.

During 2010 McKee worked as an intern in Seanad Éireann for Senator Mark Daly.

In 2013 he declared his candidacy for Kilkenny County Council in the forthcoming elections and in May 2014 was elected in the Kilkenny City West constituency as a member of Fianna Fáil. McKee is currently the youngest member of the Council. He was elected chairman of the Joint Policing Committee and leas-cathaoirleach of the Council. In March 2015 McKee left Fianna Fáil amid rumors of homophobic bullying and joined the newly formed Renua Ireland party. In December 2016, McKee left Renua Ireland and became an independent.

McKee held the position of Vice-Chairman of Kilkenny County Council for 2014-15. He was the youngest ever Vice-Chairman of Kilkenny County Council.

McKee serves as member of several local boards, including the Kilkenny-Carlow Education and Training Board (VEC), Rothe House, and the Watergate Theatre.

He is a member of both the Economic & Tourism Special Policy Committee, and the Planning Special Policy Committee on Kilkenny County Council.

In February 2015 he was unanimously elected as Chairman of Kilkenny Joint Policing Committee.

During a council vote on Irish Water McKee expressed his intention to vote with a Sinn Féin motion calling for the abolition of the controversial utility. McKee was briefly expelled from the Fianna Fáil group on Kilkenny County Council. But it was decided afterwards to allow members a free vote meaning McKee would remain within the Fianna Fáil group.