M. J. Nolan

M. J. Nolan (born 25 January 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1982 to 1997, and from 2002 to 2011.[1]

Nolan was born in Muine Bheag in County Carlow, and educated at De La Salle school in Muine Bheag and at Mount St. Joseph's in Roscrea, County Tipperary. He first held political office in 1973 when he became a member of Muine Bheag Town Council, a position which he held until 1985. He also served on Carlow County Council from 1979 until 2003, and in May 1982 he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, to the 16th Seanad.[2]

Nolan, a son of the former cabinet minister Tom Nolan, was first elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the November 1982 general election. In 1991, he was one of a "gang of four" (including Noel Dempsey, Liam Fitzgerald and Seán Power) who tabled a motion of no confidence against Charles Haughey as Taoiseach and party leader. Nolan lost his seat at the 1997 general election to constituency colleague John J. McGuinness. However, he was elected to the 21st Seanad by the Agricultural Panel at a by-election in December 2001.

He regained his Dáil seat at the 2002 general election, and was re-elected in 2007.

He is married to Mary Forde and has two sons and two daughters.

He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[3]