The former Fine Gael TD and minister of state, Donal Creed, has died aged 93. He served in the Dáil for 24 years, having been returned in eight successive general elections.
“He was proud to instigate the setting up of the National Lottery against some stiff opposition but most of all he was proudest to be continually endorsed by the people of his constituency in all eight general elections he contested from 1965 until 1989,” his daughter Marcella told mourners at his funeral Mass.
He was renowned for having one of the most efficient political organisations in the country, which he ran from his Macroom, Co Cork base. Fianna Fáil regularly outpolled Fine Gael in his three-seat Cork North West constituency but efficient vote management meant Fine Gael frequently won two of the three seats.
The former Fine Gael TD for Cork South West and minister of state, Jim O’Keeffe, described him as a very able politician who would have made a fine senior minister. “I think he was one of the finest colleagues I ever served in the Dáil with. He was both able and affable and the very essence of decency.”
Entered politics
He was born to Michael and Ellen Creed (nee Murray) in Carrigaphooca, Macroom, Co Cork and educated at Clondrohid National School, De La Salle Macroom and University College Cork. He entered politics when he was co-opted onto Cork County Council following the death of his father in 1963. He stood unsuccessfully at a Dáil byelection for Mid-Cork in March 1965, which was caused by the death of Labour TD Dan Desmond, whose widow Eileen won the seat.
The loss of this byelection by the Fianna Fáil government of the day led to a general election the following month at which Donal Creed was elected. He retained this seat until 1981, when boundary changes led to the constituency being redrawn as Cork North West.
When Ireland became part of the then European Economic Community, he was also elected a member of the European Parliament, where he served from 1973 to 1977. In addition, he was chairman of Cork County Council (1978-79), something which he often referred to as one of the highlights of his career.
Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald appointed him frontbench spokesman on defence in early 1981 and in the short-lived Fine Gael-Labour coalition of 1981-82, he was a minister of state at the Department of the Environment and then at the Department of Health. He was later appointed minister of state for education, where he served until February 1986. During his time at education, he had responsibility for sport and youth affairs and instigated the setting up of the National Lottery, which proved to be one of his major achievements in public life.
In early 1986, FitzGerald’s attempted cabinet reshuffle proved unsuccessful when Labour’s Barry Desmond refused to move from health. As part of the reshuffle, Creed and Michael D’Arcy from Wexford were to be replaced by two others.
FitzGerald informed the Dáil that he had “accepted the resignations” of the two ministers of state but on the following Sunday on RTÉ Radio, both denied giving him their resignations. FitzGerald then had to dismiss them and had afterwards to apologise to the Dáil for misleading it.
Party’s interest
O’Keeffe said this decision to sack Creed was one of FitzGerald’a biggest mistakes but that the Cork North West deputy always put the party’s interest first.
He served as chief whip and was chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party from 1987 to 1989, when he retired from active politics. He son Michael won his seat and is currently Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Following his retirement, he returned to his first love, farming, and was still actively gardening until his 90th birthday. He retained his love of sport and an interest in current affairs up until his death.
He is survived by his wife Madeleine, daughters Marcella, Michelle, Madeleine, Suzanne, Louise, son Michael, 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his eldest daughter Claire, who died seven weeks before him.
Born: September 7th, 1924
Died: November 23rd, 2017