Career
Born in Kilfenora, County Clare, he was an Inspector of Taxes in Dundalk before being appointed by Seán Lemass to run the Gentex textiles company in Athlone. At its height it was the major employer in the Midlands. He also was involved for some years in the Hodson Bay Hotel on Lough Ree and was instrumental in the establishment of the All-Ireland amateur drama festival.
He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) at his first attempt for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1965 general election.
Patrick Lenihan was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1969 general election and died suddenly in 1970. A third, Paddy, served as a county councillor in Roscommon although in the later stages of his career in the 1980s left the party to join up with Neil Blaney"s Independent Fianna Fáil party.
Conor Lenihan and Mary O"Rouke lost their seats at the 2011 general election. Brian Lenihan, Jnr was re-elected but died in June 2011, ending the Lenihans 50-years of continuous service in the Oireachtas.
He also had some success as a hurler with Westmeath during the 1930s.
The following year he played in, to date, Westmeaths only Leinster Senior Hurling Championship where they lost out to Kilkenny.