Biography of the Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D.

Biography

• Enda Kenny was elected as Taoiseach on March 9th 2011.
• He was elected Leader of Fine Gael in June 2002. Since then, he has rebuilt the party. Under his leadership Fine Gael has gained seats in every single location.
• In the general election in 2011 Fine Gael won 76 seats, becoming the largest party in the Dáil.
• In the local elections in 2009 Fine Gael won 340 seats, becoming the largest party at local level for the first time in history.
• Enda has represented the people of Mayo as a Fine Gael member of Dáil Éireann since 1975.
• He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 – 1997, overseeing an unprecedented growth in tourism business and Ireland’s trade position internationally.
• He was Minister for State at the Department of Education, Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Western Development, Youth Affairs and Sport.

Some other facts

• Enda is married to Fionnuala. They have 3 teenage children, Aoibhinn, Ferdia and Naoise.
• He enjoys hillwalking, cycling, golf, has climbed Croagh Patrick over 100 times and Kilimanjaro for charity.
• He played for, managed and coached his local team Islandeady GAA for many years to County Championship victories.
• He looks forward to and enjoys annual family holidays in Kerry.
• He reads a lot, including Irish and military history.
• He is a fluent Irish speaker.
• He is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen.
• His late father Henry Kenny won All Ireland Football honours with Mayo in 1936 and his father in law with Kerry in 1953.