Jack Fitzsimons

rdf:langString Jack Fitzsimons

rdf:langString Jack Fitzsimons

rdf:langString Jack Fitzsimons

rdf:langString Navan, County Meath, Ireland

rdf:langString Gravelstown, Carlanstown, County Meath, Ireland

rdf:langString Fitzsimons in 2007

rdf:langString Architect, politician and writer

rdf:langString Jack Fitzsimons (26 April 1930 – 4 November 2014) was an Irish chartered architect and surveyor based in Kells, County Meath. He was a Fianna Fáil member of Seanad Éireann, who was elected to the Seanad in 1983 by the Industrial and Commercial Panel, and re-elected in 1987. His contributions to debates such as the amendments to the National Monuments Bill highlighted a well informed approach to heritage that was both practical and principled. In that debate, he also referred to the preservation of thatched cottages which was later to be the subject a detailed book. He lost his seat at the 1989 election. He resigned from Fianna Fáil in 1989, within hours of that election and his letter to the then Fianna Fáil general secretary, Frank Wall highlighted his criticism of Charles Haughey on the grounds that there was "no ideology, no consistency, no positive approach within Fianna Fáil, and that debate was stifled, as a key driver in his decision. He subsequently ran as an independent candidate for the 1994 European Parliament elections for the Leinster constituency, getting 6,752 votes (2.6%) based on a manifesto which included a strong anti-hunting and anti-hare coursing policy. He continued as activist against aspects of planning including the approach of Meath County Council to regulation of septic tanks.