Rory O’Hanlon: 1934-2026

Former Ceann Comhairle Rory O’Hanlon died aged 92 in March 2026.

Rory O’Hanlon was born in Dublin in February 1934 but was brought up in his father’s hometown of Mullaghbawn, County Armagh. His father was a doctor, and O’Hanlon followed in his footsteps, graduating from University College Dublin in 1959 with a degree in medicine.

O’Hanlon was first elected as a TD for Cavan-Monaghan in 1977, where he retained his seat eight times consecutively.

He was selected by former Taoiseach Charles Haughey to lead the Department for Health in 1987 and held the position until 1991. Throughout his time as Health Minister, he was responsible for cuts to hospital beds and health services due to lack of funding from the exchequer. However, O’Hanlon was also instrumental in the delivery and opening of Cavan General Hospital in 1989.

In 1991, O’Hanlon was made Minister for the Environment. However, this appointment would be short lived as he was one of several ministers to be reshuffled after Albert Renyolds succeeded Haughey as Fianna Fáil leader in February 1992.

Following Bertie Ahern’s succession in 1994, O’Hanlon was made chair of the parliamentary party. In 2002, he was elected as Ceann Comhairle, where he stayed until his retirement from national politics in 2011.

Sinn Féin TD for Cavan and Monaghan Matt Cathy said O’Hanlon would be “fondly remembered” throughout the constituency and was a “pivotal figure” in Irish politics.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP, called O’Hanlon a “true friend” of the party, adding that his life was “one of dedicated public service”.
Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin TD paid tribute to O’Hanlon saying: “He was a gifted doctor, a good listener, a keen observer of people, a caring and empathetic man who sought to improve the lives of his patients and community, and a man who was a natural problem-solver.

“Rory cared passionately for his community and constituents. He advocated for them. He sought to improve their lives. Rory was a natural public representative. He was in politics for all the right reasons: a real commitment to public service.”

O’Hanlon is survived by his wife Theresa, his children, his sister Fionnuala, and extended family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.