There is a tradition in Irish politics of having family members succeed each other, frequently in the same parliamentary seat. This article lists families where two or more members of that family have been members (TD or Senator) of either of the houses of the Oireachtas (Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann) or of the European Parliament. It also includes members of the Oireachtas who had a relation who served in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922) for an Irish constituency. It does not include people who have served only on local councils.
For the purposes of this list, a "family" has been defined as a group of people where each person has one of the following relationships to at least one of the other people listed: son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter father, mother, grandfather or grandmother nephew, niece, grandnephew or grandniece uncle, aunt, great uncle or great aunt sibling or first cousin spouse (husband or wife) connected by marriage ("-in-law" relationships)
The list has been indexed against the name of the first family member to enter the Oireachtas.
PartyAbbreviationConservative PartyConCumann na nGaedhealCnaGClann na PoblachtaCnaPClann na TalmhanCnaTDemocratic LeftDLFarmers' PartyFPFianna FáilFFFine GaelFG
PartyAbbreviationGreen PartyGPIndependentIndIndependent Fianna FáilIFFIndependent IrelandIIIrish National FederationINFIrish Parliamentary PartyIPPIrish Unionist AllianceIUAIrish Worker LeagueIWL
PartyAbbreviationLabour PartyLabNational Centre PartyNCPNational League PartyNLPProgressive DemocratsPDSocial DemocratsSDSinn FéinSFSinn Féin the Workers PartySFWPWorkers' PartyWP
A Theresa Ahearn (1951–2000): FG TD Tipperary South 1989–2000 her son Garret Ahearn: FG Senator 2020– Bertie Ahern (born 1951): FF TD Dublin Central 1977–2011 his brother Noel Ahern (born 1944): FF TD Dublin North-West 1992–2011 Kit Ahern (1915–2007): FF Senator 1965–1977, FF TD Kerry North 1977–1981 her cousin Ned O'Sullivan (born 1950): FF Senator 2007–2025 William Aird (died 1931): CnaG TD Leix–Offaly 1927–1931 his grandson William Aird: FG TD Laois 2024– Ernest Alton (1873–1952): Ind TD Dublin University 1922–1937, Ind Senator 1938–1943 his nephew Bryan Alton (1919–1991): Ind Senator 1965–1973 David Andrews (1935–2026): FF TD Dún Laoghaire 1965–2002 (son of Todd Andrews, an FF founder) his son Barry Andrews (born 1967): FF TD Dún Laoghaire 2002–2011, MEP Dublin 2020– his brother Niall Andrews (1937–2006): FF TD Dublin South 1977–1987, MEP Dublin 1984–2004 Niall's son Chris Andrews (born 1964): FF TD Dublin South-East 2007–2011, SF TD Dublin Bay South 2020–2024, SF Senator 2025– Seán Ardagh (1947–2016): FF TD Dublin South-Central 1997–2011 his daughter Catherine Ardagh (born 1982): FF Senator 2016–2024, TD Dublin South-Central 2024– Bob Aylward (1911–1974): FF Senator 1973–1974 his son Liam Aylward (born 1952): FF TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1977–2007, MEP East 2004–2014 his son Bobby Aylward (1955–2022): FF TD Carlow–Kilkenny 2007–2011, 2015–2020
B Anthony Barry (1901–1983): FG TD/Senator Cork Borough 1954–1965 his son Peter Barry (1928–2016): FG TD Cork City South-East/Cork City/Cork South-Central 1969–1997 Peter's daughter Deirdre Clune (born 1959): FG TD Cork South-Central 1997–2002, 2007–2011, Senator 2011–2014, MEP South 2014–2019, 2020–2024 Richard Barry (1919–2013): FG TD Cork East/Cork North-East 1953–1981 his daughter Myra Barry (born 1957): FG TD Cork North-East/Cork East 1979–1987 Patrick Belton (1884–1945): FF TD Dublin County 1927, CnaG/FG TD Dublin North 1933–1937, FG TD Dublin County 1938–1943 his son Richard Belton (1913–1974): FG Senator 1969–1973 his daughter Avril Doyle (born 1949): FG TD/Senator Wexford 1982–2002, MEP Leinster/East 1999–2009 his son Jack Belton (died 1963): FG TD Dublin North-East 1948–1963 his son Paddy Belton (1926–1987): FG TD Dublin North-East 1963–1977 his nephew Luke Belton (1918–2006): FG TD/Senator Dublin North-Central/Dublin Finglas 1965–1987 his first cousin once removed Louis Belton (1943–2023): FG TD/Senator Longford–Westmeath/Longford–Roscommon 1989–2002Louis's Irish Times obituary states: "A grand-uncle, Paddy Belton, was elected to the Dáil in 1927", but this appears to be incorrect, as does the previous statement here that Louis was Patrick's nephew. So technically Louis does not even qualify for this page. Thomas Westropp Bennett (1867–1962): CnaG/FG Senator 1922–1936 his brother George C. Bennett (1877–1963): CnaG/FG TD Limerick 1927–1948 and Senator 1948–1951 Sir Edward Coey Bigger (1861–1942): Ind Senator 1925–1936 his son Joseph Warwick Bigger (1891–1951): Ind Senator 1944–1951 Neal Blaney (1889–1948): FF TD Donegal 1927–1937, Donegal East 1937–1938 and 1943–1948, FF Senator 1938–1943 Neal's son Neil Blaney (1922–1995): FF/IFF TD Donegal East/Donegal North-East/Donegal 1948–1995, IFF MEP Connacht–Ulster 1979–1984, 1989–1994 Neal's son Harry Blaney (1928–2013): IFF TD Donegal North-East 1997–2002 Harry's son Niall Blaney (born 1974): IFF/FF TD Donegal North-East 2002–2011, FF Senator 2020– Harry Boland (1887–1922): SF TD South Roscommon 1918–1922 his brother Gerald Boland (1885–1973): FF TD/Senator Roscommon 1923–1961 Gerald's son Kevin Boland (1917–2001): FF TD Dublin County 1957–1970 John Mary Pius Boland, see O'Byrne John Boland (1944–2000): FG Senator 1969–1977, FG TD Dublin County North/Dublin North 1977–1989 his daughter Grace Boland: FG TD Dublin Fingal West 2024– Philip Brady (1893–1995): FF TD Dublin South-Central 1951–1977 his son Gerard Brady (1936–2020): FF TD Dublin Rathmines West/Dublin South-East 1977–1992 Declan Bree (born 1951): Labour TD Sligo–Leitrim 1992–1997 his sister-in-law Catherine Connolly (born 1957): Ind TD Galway West 2016–2025, President 2025– Thomas Brennan (1886–1953): FF TD Wicklow 1944–1953 his son Paudge Brennan (1922–1998): FF TD Wicklow 1954–1973, 1981–1982, 1982–1987, Senator 1982For evidence of family connection, see speech by Paudge Brennan in the Dáil Éireann debates, Volume 246, 8 May 1970 , on the Nomination of Members of Government Martin Brennan (1903–1956): FF TD Sligo 1938–1948 his nephew Matt Brennan (born 1936): FF TD Sligo–Leitrim 1982–2002 Séamus Brennan (1948–2008): FF TD Dublin South 1981–2008, Senator 1977–1981 his son Shay Brennan: FF TD Dublin Rathdown (2024–) Robert Briscoe (1894–1969): FF TD Dublin South/Dublin South-West 1927–1965 his son Ben Briscoe (1934–2023): FF TD Dublin 1965–2002 Colm Brophy (born 1966): FG TD Dublin South-West 2016– his wife Maeve O'Connell: FG TD Dublin Rathdown 2024– John Browne (1936–2019): FG Senator 1983–1987, TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1989–2002 his son Fergal Browne (born 1973): FG Senator 2002–2007 Seán Browne (1916–1996): FF TD Wexford 1957–1961, 1969–1981, 1982 his nephew John Browne (born 1948): FF TD Wexford 1982–2016 John's son James Browne (born 1975): FF TD Wexford 2016– Cathal Brugha (1874–1922): SF TD County Waterford 1918–1922 his wife Caitlín Brugha (1879–1959): SF TD Waterford 1923–1927 his son Ruairí Brugha (1917–2006): FF TD Dublin County South 1973–1977, Senator 1969–1973, 1977–1981, MEP 1977–1979 Ruairí's father-in-law Terence MacSwiney (1879–1920): SF TD Cork Mid 1918–1920 Terence's sister Mary MacSwiney (1872–1942): SF TD Cork Borough 1921–1927 Terence's brother Seán MacSwiney (1878–1942): SF TD Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West 1921–1922 John Bruton (1947–2024): FG TD Meath 1969–2004 his brother Richard Bruton (born 1953): FG Senator 1981–1982, TD Dublin North-Central 1982–2024 Patrick Burke (1904–1985): FF TD Dublin County/Dublin County North 1944–1973 his son Ray Burke (born 1943): FF TD Dublin County North/Dublin North 1973–1997 James Burke (died 1964): FG TD Roscommon 1951–1964 his wife Joan Burke (1928–2016): FG TD Roscommon 1964–1981 John Butler (1891–1968): Lab TD Waterford–Tipperary East 1922–1923, Waterford 1923–1927, Senator 1938–1965 his son Pierce Butler (1922–1999): FG Senator 1969–1983 Alfie Byrne (1882–1956): IPP MP Dublin Harbour 1915–1918, Ind TD Dublin Mid/Dublin North 1922–1928, Ind Senator 1928–1931, Ind TD Dublin North/Dublin North-East 1932–1956 his son A. P. Byrne (1913–1952): Ind TD Dublin North-West 1937–1944, 1948–1952 his son Thomas Byrne (1917–1978): Ind TD Dublin North-West 1952–1961 his son Patrick Byrne (1925–2021): Ind TD Dublin North-East 1956–1957, FG TD Dublin North-East 1957–1969
C Johnny Callanan (1910–1982): FF TD Clare–South Galway/Galway/Galway East 1973–1982 his nephew Joe Callanan (1949–2026): FF TD Galway East 2002–2007 Phelim Calleary (1895–1974): FF TD Mayo North 1952–1969 his son Seán Calleary (1931–2018): FF TD Mayo 1973–1992 Seán's son Dara Calleary (born 1973): FF TD Mayo 2007– Michael Calnan (died 2025): Lab Senator 1993–1997 his cousin Michael McCarthy (born 1976): Lab Senator 2002–2011, Lab TD Cork South-West 2011–2016 Seán Canney (born 1960): Ind TD Galway East 2016– his brother-in-law Paddy McHugh (born 1953): Ind TD Galway East 2002–2007 Donal Carey (1937–2025): FG TD Clare 1982–2002 his son Joe Carey (born 1975): FG TD Clare 2007–2024 Erskine Childers (1870–1922): SF TD Kildare–Wicklow 1921–1922 his double first cousin Robert Childers Barton (1881–1975): SF TD Wicklow West 1919–1921, SF TD Kildare–Wicklow 1921–1923 Erskine's son Erskine H. Childers (1905–1974): FF TD Wicklow 1938–1973, President 1973–1974 Erskine H.'s daughter Nessa Childers (born 1956): Lab/Ind MEP East 2009–2014, Ind MEP Dublin 2014–2019 Paddy Clohessy (1908–1971): FF TD Limerick East 1957–1969 his nephew Peadar Clohessy (1933–2014): FF/PD TD Limerick East 1981–1982, 1987–1997 James Coburn (1882–1953): NLP/Ind/FG TD Louth 1927–1953 his son George Coburn (1920–2009): FG TD Louth 1953–1961 James Colbert (1890–1970): Republican/FF TD Limerick 1923–1933 his first cousin Michael Colbert (1899–1959): FF TD Limerick/Limerick West 1937–1938, 1944–1948, 1955–1957, FF Senator 1938–1944 John James Cole (1874–1959): Ind TD Cavan 1923–1927, 1927–1932, 1937–1944 his brother Thomas Loftus Cole (1877–1961): Unionist MP Belfast East 1945–1950 his son John Copeland Cole (died 1987): Ind Senator 1957–1969 Harry Colley (1891–1972): FF TD Dublin North-East 1944–1957 his son George Colley (1925–1983): FF TD Dublin North-East/Dublin North-Central/Dublin Clontarf/Dublin Central 1961–1983 George's daughter Anne Colley (born 1951): PD TD Dublin South 1987–1989 James Collins (1900–1967): FF TD Limerick 1948–1967 his son Gerry Collins (born 1938): FF TD Limerick 1967–1997, MEP Munster 1994–2004 his son Michael Collins (1940–2022): FF TD Limerick West 1997–2007 his grandson Niall Collins (born 1973): FF TD Limerick West 2007– Michael Collins (1890–1922): SF TD Cork South 1918–1921, Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West 1921–1922 his cousin Gearóid O'Sullivan (1891–1948): SF TD Carlow–Kilkenny 1921–1923, CnaG TD Dublin County 1927–1937 his sister Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll (1876–1945): CnaG TD Dublin North 1923–1933 his nephew Seán Collins (1918–1975): FG TD Cork South-West 1948–1957, 1961–1969 his grandniece Nora Owen (born 1945): FG TD Dublin North 1981–1987, 1989–2002 his grandniece Mary Banotti (1939–2024): FG MEP Dublin 1984–2004 John Conlan (1928–2004): FG Senator 1965–1969, TD Monaghan/Cavan–Monaghan 1969–1987 Seán Conlan (born 1975): FG/Ind TD Cavan–Monaghan 2011–2016 Paul Connaughton Snr (born 1944): FG Senator 1977–1981, TD Galway East 1981–2011 his son Paul Connaughton Jnr (born 1982): FG TD Galway East 2011–2016 Catherine Connolly, see Bree Joseph Connolly (1885–1961): FF Senator 1928–1936 his nephew Con Lehane (1912–1983): CnaP TD Dublin South-Central 1948–1951 Roddy Connolly (1901–1980): Lab TD Louth 1943–1944, 1948–1951, Senator 1975–1977 (Son of James Connolly) his sister Nora Connolly O'Brien (1893–1981): Senator 1957–1969 Johnny Connor (1899–1955): CnaP TD Kerry North 1954–1955 his daughter Kathleen O'Connor (1934–2017): CnaP TD Kerry North 1956–1957 Fintan Coogan Snr (1910–1984): FG TD Galway West 1954–1977