Background
McGAHON, Brendan was born on November 22, 1936 in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. Parents: Owen McGahon and Marcella McGahon (née Hoey).
McGAHON, Brendan was born on November 22, 1936 in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. Parents: Owen McGahon and Marcella McGahon (née Hoey).
St. Mary’s College, Dundalk.
He was a Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Louth constituency. Often described as "colourful" and with a reputation as a social conservative, McGahon was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election and retained his seat until retiring at the 2002 general election. He started a local newspaper, the Dundalk Democrat which was supportive of the IPP. T.F. was a critic of the War of Independence campaign, of Sinn Féin, and of the then Ireland Republican Army, arguing that the campaign would result in the partition of Ireland.
He played soccer for Dundalk F.C. in the Premier Division for a number of years.
McGahon was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1981 general election and at the February 1982 general election. He was re-elected at the next five general elections.
A maverick and outspoken Territorial Decoration he was known to speak his mind on many issues including divorce, crime, single mothers, the drinks industry and was an outspoken critic of the Provisional Ireland Republican Army throughout his time in politics. He once advocated that paedophiles should be castrated as part of their prison sentence and was the only Territorial Decoration to oppose the referendum to abolish the death penalty from the Constitution.
He also argued that those aged under 21 years of age should not be able to drive or drink.
He opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality and said: "I regard homosexuals as being in a sad category, but I believe homosexuality to be an abnormality, some type of psycho-sexual problem that has defied explanation over the years. I do not believe that the Irish people desire this normalisation of what is clearly an abnormality. Homosexuality is a departure from normality and while homosexuals deserve our compassion they do not deserve our tolerance.
That is how the man in the street thinks.
I know of no homosexual who has been discriminated against. Such people have a persecution complex because they know they are different from the masses or normal society.
The lord provided us with sexual organs for a specific purpose. Homosexuals are like left-hand drivers driving on the right-hand side of the road."
McGahon lives in Ravensdale, County Louth.
Catholic
The family subsequently supported the National League Party and the Independent Territorial Decoration James Coburn and joined Fine Gael when Coburn joined the party. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Louth at the November 1982 general election defeating incumbent Fine Gael Territorial Decoration, Bernard Markey. He did not contest the 2002 general election and retired from politics.
They endure inner torment and it is not a question of the way others view them.
T.F. McGahon was a leading member of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP). They were also prominent members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Spouse Celine McGahon (née Lundy), 1962. Children: Robert, Coner, Keith, Adele, Jill.