Background
His father was the poet W. B. Yeats, who likewise served in the Seanad, and his mother was Georgie Hyde-Lees.
His father was the poet W. B. Yeats, who likewise served in the Seanad, and his mother was Georgie Hyde-Lees.
Michael was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and was an officer in the College Historical Society.
He unsuccessfully stood for election to Dáil Éireann at the 1948 general election and the 1951 general election for the Dublin South–East constituency. Following the 1951 election, Yeats was nominated to the 7th Seanad by the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera. He stood at the subsequent election in 1954 for the 8th Seanad but was not elected.
In 1961 he was elected to the 10th Seanad by the Labour Panel.
In 1965 he was nominated by the Taoiseach Seán Lemass to the 11th Seanad. In 1969 he was elected to the 12th Seanad by the Cultural and Educational Panel, and re-elected to the 13th Seanad in 1973.
In 1977, he was nominated by the Taoiseach Jack Lynch to the 14th Seanad. He resigned from the Seanad on 12 March 1980.
From 1969 to 1973, during the 12th Seanad, he served as Cathaoirleach (chair).
He stood at the first direct elections in 1979 for the Dublin constituency but was not elected.
He served two periods as a member of Seanad Éireann. From 1961 to 1980 he was a member of Seanad Éireann. While a senator, Yeats served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1973 to 1979, being appointed to Ireland"s first, second and third delegations.
