Mol an óige: Albert Dolan TD
Named after former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Fianna Fáil TD Albert Dolan topped the poll in Galway East when elected to the 34th Dáil on his 26th birthday. He tells Ciaran Brennan about his family’s Fianna Fáil connection, his priorities, and the impact he hopes to have in Irish politics.
In 2011, a 12-year-old Albert Dolan was on the campaign trail with his father Michael, a Fianna Fáil candidate in that year’s general election; the first since the financial crash overseen by Fianna Fáil. Accompanied by his siblings and cousins, he leafletted throughout the Galway East constituency.
A backlash from the electorate saw Fianna Fáil lose 57 seats in the election, failing to top the poll for the first time since 1932, and Michael was unsuccessful in his campaign. Dolan recalls how they were received on the doorsteps. “I remember the hostility towards Fianna Fáil in that campaign, and even as young people, we were subjected to some of the sentiment at that time.”
Since then, Dolan has realised the ambition his father once held. Having joined Ógra Fianna Fáil in 2019, he decided to run in that year’s local elections with some encouragement from then-Minister of State Anne Rabbitte.
He outlines the changes in Galway’s political landscape that paved the way for his election aged 19: “I knew there was a convention coming for the party and a few things had gone my way. My home village of Monivea and two of the surrounding townlands had come into the Athenry-Oranmore municipal district. This meant I would have more local support as I had gone to secondary school in Athenry.
“Martina Kinane, a Fianna Fáil councillor, had moved into the Gort-Kinvara district and Malachy Noone, the other Fianna Fáil councillor, was retiring. So, Fianna Fáil now had two vacancies in the Athenry-Oranmore municipal district, so there was an opening, and the boundary suited me.
“Those were two things that really went in my favour and made me say, ‘well, Fianna Fáil needs a candidate, and I want to be it’. I demonstrated that hunger and determination to the party members I was given the chance to be on the ticket,” he explains.
Dolan was re-elected during the June 2024 local election and subsequently became Galway County Council’s youngest ever Cathaoirleach. “That gave me the confidence to go for the general election, to try and represent my community in Galway East at a national level, and try to impact the future of the country,” explains Dolan.
In November 2024, Dolan claimed one of the four seats in Galway East as Anne Rabbitte, who encouraged him to enter electoral politics, lost her seat. Following the formation of the Seanad in February 2025, he emerged as the youngest member of Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party.
“It was special to propose Micheál Martin for Taoiseach. It was a crazy experience to think that the first time I stood up to give the speech, the Dáil was in complete chaos. The entire opposition was on their feet roaring at me.” Albert Dolan TD
Dáil beginnings
Dolan’s first contribution in the Dáil was to nominate Micheál Martin TD as Taoiseach. This was initially planned for 22 January 2025, but Dolan was forced to postpone his nomination as he was drowned out by shouting between the opposition and the Government over the speaking rights dispute with Michael Lowry TD’s Regional Independent Group (RIG). He eventually made his speech on 23 January 2025.
In his speech, he said: “These are often cynical times. There are many who relentlessly portray politics and political leaders as self-interested or incapable. There is barely any space available in our public airwaves or elsewhere to acknowledge progress achieved by our political leaders.”
Reflecting on the speech, Dolan says: “It was an incredible experience. I have not made many speeches in my life. I had spoken to large crowds before, but I had never made a speech that was going to be going out to the nation.
“It was special to propose Micheál Martin for Taoiseach. It was a crazy experience to think that the first time I stood up to give the speech, the Dáil was in complete chaos. The entire opposition was on their feet roaring at me.”
Political influences
Dolan identifies Martin as “one of the biggest influences” on his career to date. The Monivea man says it is Martin’s ability “to stay incredibly calm” that he admires most. He adds that we would like to replicate that calmness, particularly when “things are not simple or going your way”.
“I try to embody his philosophy; people need to work together. There is a growing amount of divisiveness online and in Irish discourse,” continues Dolan.
“There are more people seeking to divide us than those seeking to bring us together. We need politicians to step up, be leaders, and bring people together so we can achieve better outcomes for everyone.”
The Galway East TD states he is also “a big fan of Barack Obama”. Upon Dolan’s election, he was labelled an “Obama-type figure” by broadcaster and former Minister for Agriculture Ivan Yates.
Reflecting on this comparison, Dolan says: “It is very complimentary, but I think it is too early to judge whether I am going to have a huge impact or not. I am still learning as much as I possibly can. I want to have as big an impact as possible. Whether you are labelled like Obama or any other politician, at the end of the day, you will be judged on what you achieve and what you do for your people.”
Priorities
Dolan is currently Fianna Fáil spokesperson for Enterprise and the Circular Economy and he states that ensuring business in the State are operating in a “competitive landscape” is his top priority. He acknowledges that “margins have never been tighter” for small businesses and discusses how the State can retain multinationals which are at the crux of the economy’s health.
“A lot of the multinationals are competing with sister sites in Asia, in the US, and South America. As a result, we are starting to see some of those businesses losing volume and productivity to their sister sites.
“We need to ensure that those businesses remain as competitive in Ireland as they would be in the US, South America, and Asia, and government has the power to step in and support those businesses.”
The 26-year-old states that a blend of training and administration of the National Training Fund is needed to create “an environment for success” for SMEs. He also states that links between SMEs and universities need to be strengthened to retain talent in Ireland.
“If I ever had the privilege of being leader of Fianna Fáil, that is something that I would give my full commitment to.” Albert Dolan TD
While Dolan demonstrates a strong grasp on enterprise as part of his spokesperson duties, he falters when pressed on his priorities for the circular economy.
“The circular economy has come to the fore in the last decade, the idea of how can we be effective in reducing, reusing, and recycling different parts of our economy. The circular economy for me is about being an advocate for that and allowing people to innovate in how they see best fit to implement that.”
When asked about ways he has advocated for the circular economy, Dolan says: “I have met with different representative groups of the circular economy. There was one group I was speaking to about a product that is encouraging mothers within the baby sector to really try to reduce, reuse, and recycle within the circular economy.”
Dolan has publicly identified the housing crisis as the biggest challenge facing people of his generation. The Monivea man asserts that Minister for Housing James Browne TD “is treating it as an emergency”. He adds: “I think we have seen that in the way he has brought forward legislation, and the speed at which he has brought through changes.”
Dolan previously told The Journal that the Minister should be given “emergency powers” to intervene in zoning by local authorities. “The Minister sometimes needs to intervene in these situations to get things moving,” he says.
“I do not want to see this process caught up for months and months in local authorities. Ultimately there is a risk that that could happen.
“Our housing story is going to be about the sum of our local authorities’ performance. If all local authorities meet their targets, the Government will meet its targets.
“We are all in this together. Everyone is feeling the pain of the housing crisis, we are seeing it with constituents not being able to rent homes, constituents having to present as homeless to councils, and this is creating another burden on councils as well.”
Future aspirations
Dolan’s election to Galway County Council at 19 and the Dáil at 26 demonstrates a significant level of personal ambition. However, he is coy when discussing any ambitions he holds for his future in politics.
On whether he aims to one day become Minister for Enterprise, he says: “I do not think it is something I can predict. If I was ever to be any minister, I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve in government.”
When asked if he has ambitions of leading Fianna Fáil and becoming Taoiseach, as his namesake Albert Reynolds did, Dolan says: “The most important thing for me is to focus on the job I am doing day in, day out.
“If I ever had the privilege of being leader of Fianna Fáil, that is something that I would give my full commitment to. But for myself at the moment, the main thing is to keep focusing on being the best TD can for the people of Galway East.”
