William O'Leary (Irish politician)

William O'Leary
O'Leary in 1927
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1927  February 1932
ConstituencyKerry
Personal details
Born(1894-10-04)4 October 1894
Snipefield, Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland
Died27 November 1955(1955-11-27) (aged 61)
Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil

William O'Leary (4 October 1894 – 27 November 1955) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.

The son of a farmer from Snipefield, Ardfert, County Kerry. He became a farmer and vintner at Irremore, Lixnaw. During the Irish War of Independence, he was Battalion Engineer for the 2nd Battalion, Kerry No.1 Brigade. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty he fought on the anti-treaty side in the Irish Civil War.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election. He did not contest the 1932 general election.

O'Leary continued his activity in politics outside of parliament. He had been elected to Kerry County Council in 1928, and held his seat until his death. In 1937 he was elected to Fianna Fáil's National Executive.

When the Agricultural Wages Board was formed in 1937 he was named as chairman, a post he held until his death.

In his later years he lived in Clontarf, Dublin. He died at a nursing home in Rathmines on 27 November 1955, aged 61, and was buried in Mulhuddart Cemetery.