Séamus Kirk

Séamus Kirk (born 26 April 1945) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from October 2009 to March 2011, and he had been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth from 1982 to 2016.

Kirk was born in Drumkeith, County Louth. He is married to Mary McGeough. They have three sons and one daughter and live in Knockbridge, County Louth. He was educated at CBS Dundalk. He was a farmer and agricultural adviser before entering politics. He is a former player on the Louth County GAA Team.

He was a member of Louth County Council from 1974 to 1985, and he was first elected to the Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a member of the 24th Dáil. He has been returned in each subsequent election.

Kirk was Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1987 to 1992. Later, he was the chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party from 2002 until October 2009. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for election to the European Parliament in 2004 in the East constituency. His running mate Liam Aylward took a seat for Fianna Fáil.

On 13 October 2009, Kirk succeeded John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle after O'Donoghue resigned over an expenses scandal. He was nominated for that post by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and seconded by Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, and he defeated Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley by 87 votes to 51 votes. McGinley had been nominated by his party's leader, Enda Kenny.

He is the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Horticulture and Rural Affairs.

In September 2014, he announced he would not be contesting the 2016 general election.