Kevin "Boxer" Moran

Kevin "Boxer" Moran
Minister of State
2017–2020Public Expenditure and Reform
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2016 – February 2020
ConstituencyLongford–Westmeath
Personal details
Born (1968-05-12) 12 May 1968 (age 56)
Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Fianna Fáil (until 2011)
Spouse
Michelle Fagg
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

Kevin Moran (born 12 May 1963) is an Irish independent politician. Currently a member of Westmeath County Council, Moran served as a Minister of State from 2017 to 2020. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency from 2016 to 2020.[1]

Political career

He was a member of Westmeath County Council from 1999 to 2016, and represented Fianna Fáil until 2011.[2][3] In January 2006, he contested Fianna Fáil's nomination to stand at the 2007 general election, being narrowly defeated by Mary O'Rourke.[4] He contested the 2014 by-election as an independent candidate, but failed to win a seat. He joined the Independent Alliance ahead of the 2016 general election.[3] Moran was elected to Dáil Éireann in February 2016. After lengthy government formation talks, the Independent Alliance supported the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 6 May 2016, allowing Kenny to become the first leader of Fine Gael to be re-elected to this office.[5]

On 3 June 2017, he was appointed by the government as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief.[6] This was part of arrangement with fellow Independent Alliance TD Seán Canney, who had been serving in that position.[7] Moran's appointment lapsed on the resignation of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach later that month on 14 June. On 20 June 2017, Moran was appointed by the government formed by Leo Varadkar to the same position.[8][9]

He lost his seat at the 2020 general election, continuing to serve as a minister of state until the formation of a new government on 27 June 2020.

In January 2022, he was expected to become a member of Westmeath County Council after his son Jamie resigned his position on the council due to work commitments.[10] However his admission was not accepted by the majority of the incumbent council.[11][12]

He was again elected to Westmeath County Council at the 2024 local elections, topping the poll with 39.64% of the vote and being elected on the first count.[13]

Personal life

Moran left school at 13 with severe dyslexia, and started work in the building trade, later moving on to develop a taxi business. He has spoken about other problems in his life, including the death of a brother, which have caused him to attempt suicide.[14][15]

He is married and lives in Athlone.[16] Moran is often referred to by the nickname "Boxer", a nickname which arose from him hitting an opponent in a football game at the age of 12.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Kevin Moran". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Kevin Moran". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Election 2016: Kevin "Boxer" Moran". RTÉ. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  4. ^ "O'Rourke Sparks Row Over 'Blacks' Remark". Irish Independent. 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Enda Kenny is re-elected as Taoiseach in the Dáil". Newstalk. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ "2017 Edition, No. 46" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 9 June 2017. pp. 789–791. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Moran takes up ministerial role in coin-flip deal". RTÉ.ie. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  8. ^ "2017 Edition, No. 52" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 30 June 2017. p. 883. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Former TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran expected to fill son's vacant council seat". RTÉ News. 7 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Former junior minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran loses out in political comeback bid". Irish Independent. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Boxer issues scathing attack on FF/Green 'naked power grab'". Westmeath Independent. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Local elections 2024 – Westmeath fills all 20 seats with Sinn Féin and Independent Ireland making gains". Irish Independent. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  14. ^ Kitty Holland (19 May 2017). "Kevin 'Boxer' Moran TD reveals bid to take his own life". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  15. ^ "'Boxer' Moran: 'Yes, I have difficulties with reading, but I am as clever a man as you will ever meet'". thejournal.ie. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  16. ^ "About me". Kevin "Boxer" Moran. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  17. ^ Pope, Conor. "'Boxer' Moran has the aura of a champion among Athlone fans". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief
2017–2020 		Succeeded by