Máel Coluim Mac Giolla Phádraig

Máel Coluim Mac Giolla Phádraig TC
Tánaiste of Caldia
In office 23 June 2007 – 22 March 2018
Taoiseach	Alastrí Nic Ualtair (2007-2017) Simi Ó Raghallaigh
Preceded by	Alan Shatt
Succeeded by	Vacant
Leader of the Centre Party
In office 3 September 2006 – 22 March 2018
Preceded by	Síle Ó Cuív
Teachta Comhthionól for Sackmannan-at-Large
In office 12 June 1987 – 22 March 2018
Personal details
Born	Máel Coluim Eóin Alastrí Nic Ualtair 24 April 1955 Cloghel, Sackmannan, Caldia
Died	22 March 2018 (aged 62) Spálgleann, Caldia
Political party	Centre Party
Spouse	Elizabeth Salmond
Children	2
Alma mater	Invertwinc College of Commerce
Military service
Branch/service	Home Guard

Máel Coluim Eóin Mac Giolla Phádraig (24 April 1955 - 22 March 2018) was a Caldish politician who served as the Tánaiste of Caldia, as part of the coalition governments headed by Taoisigh Alastrí Nic Ualtair ⁊ Ní Deoradh and Simi Ó Raghallaigh. Mac Giolla Phádraig was also the leader of the Centre Party from 2006 until his death in 2018.

Life and Career

He was born as Máel Coluim Eóin Mac Giolla Phádraig on 24 April 1955 to Mary Mac Giolla Phádraig, a school teacher, and Eóin Anne MacDouglas, a doctor, in Cloghel, County Sackmannan. As a child, he often worked on his uncle’s farm in rural County Sackmannan. He lived with his mothers until he went to the Invertwinc College of Commerce to study agricultural economics. After working on his cousin’s campaign for a seat on the county council, Mac Giolla Phádraig drew the attention of local Centre Party activists, who approached him to run as a TC for the Sackmannan-at-Large constituency. He stood in the 1987 election and won a seat, starting his almost 30 year tenure in the Comhthionól.

Party leader

Mac Giolla Phádraig became party leader after the resignation of Síle Ó Cuív, who resigned over poor health. He was elected by Centre TCs on 3 September 2006 and assumed the leadership on the same day.

As party leader he worked to expand Centre's base, which is traditionally made up of farmers and those employed in the agriculture and fishing industries. Under his leadership, the Centre Party adopted policies to attract senior citizens before the 2012 election. Increasing the number of shares in PRG held by the government's pension fund. Nic Ualtair agreed to the measure, raising the percentage of shares from three percent to four percent. However, the party lost two seats in the 2012 general election.

In order to make itself more appealing to suburban and young voters, the Mac Giolla Phádraig oversaw the adoption of positions that favor free higher education. In addition, the party adopted a resolution which supports lowering the voting age to sixteen in municipal and county elections. Other policies added to the party platform under Mac Giolla Phádraig have marked a shift towards pro-environmentalist positions.

Under his leadership, Mac Giolla Phádraig worked to build a coalition of farmers, seniors, students, environmental activists, and suburban voters.

At the 2017 general election the party won 33 seats, its best ever performance. It continued its partnership with the Liberty Party.

Tánaiste (2007-2018)

Mac Giolla Phádraig and Alastrí Nic Ualtair formed the Liberty-Centre coalition in 2007.

Following the 2007 Comhthionól election, Liberty and Centre entered into a coalition, which has governed the country for over a decade. Mac Giolla Phádraig was appointed Tánaiste while several ministries were headed by TCs from the Centre Party. He was confirmed by the Comhthionól as Tánaiste on 23 June. In a break with precedent, he chose not to serve as both Tánaiste and a minister, stating that he was a "party man" and cared more about growing his party's support base than he did serving as a bureaucrat. He faced strong criticism from within his own party, as Centre did not occupy any of the senior ministries. He retained the position following the 2012 and 2017 elections and held it until his death on 22 March 2018.

As Tánaiste, Mac Giolla Phádraig often maintained a low profile. He primarily served as an adviser to Nic Ualtair and oversaw appointments to the Centre-held ministries. Mac Giolla Phádraig opted not to participate in foreign policy, making no major diplomatic visits outside of the Euclean Community. He played an active role in domestic policy, especially policies he prioritized as the party leader. The introduction of tuition-free university education in 2017 was one such major policy initiative spearheaded by Mac Giolla Phádraig. He was able to get the Liberty Party to agree to abolishing the fees entirely as opposed to increasing subsidies for students, the original policy Liberty hoped to pursue.

He enjoyed a particularly close relationship with Nic Ualtair and served as one of Ó Raghallaigh's senior advisers.

Death and legacy

Mac Giolla Phádraig died in the early morning of 22 March 2018. He suffered a heart attack while alone in his Spálgleann apartment. His body was discovered after he failed to let his assistive staff into the building.

He lied in state at Carrowdun Palace in its the day before his funeral, which took place at St Adomnán's Cathedral on the Royal Mile. In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated following the funeral ceremonies and his ashes were returned to his hometown of Cloghel, County Sackmannan to be buried.

His legacy is one of careful, calm, and quiet leadership that he described as being aimed at “making things better for the little guy”. Mac Giolla Phádraig was praised and his death mourned by many leading figures within Caldia. Remarking on his death, Nic Ualtair said that she "will miss one of my dear friends, a friend who was unwavering in his ability to serve the public interest in both an effective and efficient manner”.