# Seán T. O'Kelly

_Second President of Ireland (1882-1966)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/sean-t-o-kelly
Last updated: 2026-11-06

> Seán Thomas O'Kelly, originally John T. O'Kelly, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the president of Ireland from June 1945 to June 1959. He also served as deputy prime minister of Ireland from 1932 to 1945, Minister for Local Government and Public Health from 1932 to 1939, Minister for Finance from 1939 to 1945 and Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1919 to 1921. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1918 to 1945.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 25 August 1882 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Dublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P19))
- **Died:** 23 November 1966 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P570))
- **Place of death:** Dublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Ireland; Irish Republic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P106))
- **Political party:** Fianna Fáil (since 1926); Sinn Féin (1905–1926); Irish Republican Brotherhood ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P102))
- **Education:** University College Dublin; O'Connell School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P69))
- **Positions held:** president of Ireland (25 June 1945 – 24 June 1959); Teachta Dála (9 June 1944 – 14 June 1945); Teachta Dála (1 July 1943 – 10 May 1944); Minister for Finance (Ireland) (16 September 1939 – 14 June 1945); Minister for Education (Ireland) (8 September 1939 – 27 September 1939); Teachta Dála (30 June 1938 – 26 May 1943); Tánaiste (29 December 1937 – 14 June 1945); Teachta Dála (21 July 1937 – 25 May 1938); Teachta Dála (8 February 1933 – 14 June 1937); Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State (9 March 1932 – 29 December 1937); Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (9 March 1932 – 8 September 1939); Teachta Dála (9 March 1932 – 22 December 1932); Teachta Dála (11 October 1927 – 17 December 1931); Teachta Dála (23 June 1927 – 16 August 1927); Teachta Dála (19 September 1923 – 20 May 1927); Teachta Dála (9 September 1922 – 9 August 1923); Teachta Dála (16 August 1921 – 8 June 1922); Ceann Comhairle (22 January 1919 – 16 August 1921); Teachta Dála (21 January 1919 – 10 May 1921); member of the 31st Parliament of the United Kingdom (14 December 1918 – 26 October 1922); general secretary (1915–1920) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of St. Gregory the Great; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203#P166))

## Questions

**When was Seán T. O'Kelly born?**  
Seán T. O'Kelly was born on 25 August 1882 in Dublin.

**What positions has Seán T. O'Kelly held?**  
Positions held by Seán T. O'Kelly include: president of Ireland (1945–1959); Teachta Dála (1944–1945); Teachta Dála (1943–1944); Minister for Finance (Ireland) (1939–1945); Minister for Education (Ireland) (1939–1939).

**Where did Seán T. O'Kelly study?**  
Seán T. O'Kelly was educated at University College Dublin, O'Connell School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Seán T. O'Kelly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_T._O'Kelly) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q327203](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q327203) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Sean T OKelly WhiteHouse 19390517.jpg by WhiteHouseCallers19390517.jpg : Harris & Ewing, photographer. derivative work: Snappy ( talk ) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sean_T_OKelly_WhiteHouse_19390517.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Seán T. O'Kelly, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Sean T OKelly WhiteHouse 19390517.jpg — WhiteHouseCallers19390517.jpg : Harris & Ewing, photographer. derivative work: Snappy ( talk ), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Seán T. O'Kelly". DigiNepal. Last updated 6 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/sean-t-o-kelly. Retrieved 6 November 2026.