Conor D. McGuinness
{{Distinguish|Conor McGuinness|Connor McGuiness}}{{Short description|Irish politician}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix = TD
| image = Conor D. McGuinness 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = McGuiness in 2023
| office = Teachta Dála
| term_start = November 2024
| term_end =
| constituency = Waterford
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|37|2023|11|2|slash=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Sinn Féin
| spouse = Pia McGuinness
| children =
| alma_mater = University of Galway
| website = {{URL|conormcguinness.ie}}
}}
Conor D. McGuinness (born {{birth based on age as of date|37|2023|11|2|noage=1|slash=y}}) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency since the 2024 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29/|title=Conor D. McGuinness|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=4 March 2025}}{{Cite news |title=Waterford: Conor McGuinness (SF)|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/12/01/waterford-conor-mcguinness-sf/ |access-date=2 December 2024|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=1 December 2024}}
He is the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and An Ghaeltacht. {{Cite news |title=Mary Lou McDonald announces new team of Sinn Féin junior spokespersons|url=https://vote.sinnfein.ie/mary-lou-mcdonald-announces-new-team-of-sinn-fein-junior-spokespersons/ |access-date=20 February 2025|newspaper=Sinn Féin|date=18 February 2025}}
Background
McGuinness is an Irish speaker who lives in Gaeltacht na nDéise, the West Waterford Gaeltacht.{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2 November 2023 |title=Young Blood: Conor McGuinness |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/young-blood-conor-mcguinness/ |magazine=The Phoenix |access-date=4 December 2024 |url-access=subscription}}
He is a trade unionist with Unite the Union in Dungarvan, having served on its youth committee until 2017. He was also a founding member of Laochas, a youth mental health organisation in Waterford, and was also involved with Dungarvan's credit union. He has an MA degree from the University of Galway.{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Kevin |date=1 December 2024 |title=Waterford: Conor McGuinness (SF) |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/12/01/waterford-conor-mcguinness-sf/ |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=5 December 2024}}
According to his website, McGuinness is a Peace Commissioner for Waterford and adjoining counties.{{Cite web |title=McGuinness appointed Peace Commissioner for Waterford - conormcguinness.ie|date=16 July 2021 |url=https://conormcguinness.ie/2021/07/16/mcguinness-appointed-peace-commissioner-for-waterford/ |access-date=2 December 2024|language=en}}
He was a board member and vice-chairperson of Foras na Gaeilge{{Cite web |title=Joint Communiqué - North South Ministerial Council|date=30 July 2021 |url=https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/north-south-ministerial-council-twenty-sixth-plenary-meeting-joint-communique |access-date=2 December 2024 |language=en-GB}} and previously worked as the language planning officer for Gaeltacht na nDéise.{{Cite web |title=Oifigeach Pleanála Teaga nua ceaptha i bPort Lairge - Tuairisc.ie|date=26 August 2020 |url=https://tuairisc.ie/ta-gaeltacht-na-ndeise-ag-dul-sa-treo-ceart-oifigeach-pleanala-teanga-nua-ceaptha-i-bport-lairge/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |language=ga-IRL}}
Political career
McGuinness joined Sinn Féin in 2001.{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Jessica |date=7 November 2024 |title=Waterford Election 2024: Who are the candidates in my constituency? |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/waterford-election-2024-who-are-the-candidates-in-my-constituency/a990675526.html |work=Irish Independent |location= |access-date=4 December 2024}}
He was elected to Waterford City and County Council representing Dungarvan / Lismore in the 2019 Irish local elections.{{Cite web |title=Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness - Waterford City & County Council |url=https://waterfordcouncil.ie/plenary-council/conor-d-mcguinness/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |language=en}} He was re-elected in the 2024 Irish local elections having almost doubled his previous vote.{{Cite web |title=Sinn Féin bucks the trend in Waterford council as FF returns with lowest seat tally in decades - TheJournal.ie |date=12 June 2024 |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/waterford-local-elections-6405331-Jun2024/|access-date=5 December 2024|language=en}}
McGuinness served as part of Ireland's delegation on the European Committee of the Regions from 2020, and as a member of the Southern Regional Assembly.{{Cite web |title=McGuinness, Conor D. - European Committee of the Regions |url=https://memberspage.cor.europa.eu/members/2038302 |access-date=5 December 2024|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Members - Southern Regional Assembly |url=https://www.southernassembly.ie/members/south-east/P8 |access-date=5 December 2024|language=en}} As of 2023, he was a member of Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle, the party's central decision-making body.
McGuinness was elected to the Dáil for the Waterford constituency at the 2024 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=12369|title=Conor D. McGuinness|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=4 March 2025}}
Political views
The Phoenix, described McGuinness in 2023 as an "old-school republican".
References
{{reflist}}
{{Current TDs}}
{{Waterford (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Sinn Féin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuinness, Conor}}
Category:Members of the 34th Dáil
Category:Sinn Féin TDs (post-1923)
Category:Members of Waterford City and County Council
Category:Irish trade unionists
Category:Sinn Féin local councillors in the Republic of Ireland