Des Hanafin

Desmond A. "Des" Hanafin (born 1930) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a member of Seanad Éireann for over 30 years.

Personal life

Hanafin was born in Thurles, County Tipperary in 1930, to John "Johnny" Hanafin (b. 1890, d. 1953), a draper and newsagent who served for many years as a Fianna Fáil councillor for North Tipperary County Council and prior to that had been a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and an elected Sinn Féin councillor before independence.

He married, Mona Brady, daughter of J.P. Brady, on 28 August 1958 in Clonmel, Tipperary. The wedding was followed by a reception at the Galtee Hotel, Cahir which was attended by various notables including Rev. Father J.J. Hampson, President of Blackrock College. Their first child, Mary Hanafin, was born in June 1959, followed by John Hanafin in September 1960. Mary Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil TD and minister, and John Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil Senator.

Hanafin operated the Anner Hotel in Thurles during the 1960s, while initially successful, the business failed in 1967. Mary Hanafin later blamed the failure on her father's excess drinking.