# Patrick Little

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{{Short description|Irish politician (1884–1963)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}
{{for|the American neo-Nazi|Patrick Little (neo-Nazi)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image         = Patrick Little, 1927 (cropped).jpg
| caption       = Little in 1927
| office        = [Minister for Posts and Telegraphs](/source/Minister_for_Posts_and_Telegraphs)
| taoiseach     = [Éamon de Valera](/source/%C3%89amon_de_Valera)
| predecessor   = [Thomas Derrig](/source/Thomas_Derrig)
| successor     = [James Everett](/source/James_Everett_(politician))
| term_start    = 8 September 1939
| term_end      = 18 February 1948
| office1       = [Parliamentary Secretary](/source/Minister_of_State_(Ireland))
| suboffice1    = [Government Chief Whip](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_the_Taoiseach)
| subterm1      = 1933–1939
| suboffice2    = [External Affairs](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_Trade)
| subterm2      = 1933–1939
| office3       = [Teachta Dála](/source/Teachta_D%C3%A1la)
| term_start3   = [June 1927](/source/June_1927_Irish_general_election)
| term_end3     = [May 1954](/source/1954_Irish_general_election)
| constituency3 = [Waterford](/source/Waterford_(D%C3%A1il_constituency))
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1884|6|17|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [Dundrum](/source/Dundrum%2C_Dublin), [County Dublin](/source/County_Dublin), Ireland
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1963|5|16|1884|6|17|df=y}}
| death_place   = [Dublin](/source/Dublin), Ireland
| party         = [Fianna Fáil](/source/Fianna_F%C3%A1il)
| spouse        = {{marriage|Seonaid Ní Leoid|1917}}
| children      =
| education     = [Clongowes Wood College](/source/Clongowes_Wood_College)
| alma_mater    = [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin)
| occupation    = Solicitor, journalist
| father        = [Philip Francis Little](/source/Philip_Francis_Little)
| relatives     = [Ciarán Cuffe](/source/Ciar%C3%A1n_Cuffe) (grand-nephew)
}}
'''Patrick John Little''' (17 June 1884 – 16 May 1963) was an Irish [Fianna Fáil](/source/Fianna_F%C3%A1il) politician.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=1670|title=Patrick Little|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722111130/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=1670|url-status=live}}</ref> A founder-member of the party, he served in a number of [cabinet positions](/source/minister_(government)), most notably as the country's longest-serving [Minister for Posts and Telegraphs](/source/Minister_for_Posts_and_Telegraphs).

==Early life==
Born in [Dundrum](/source/Dundrum%2C_Dublin), [County Dublin](/source/County_Dublin), Little was the son of [Philip Francis Little](/source/Philip_Francis_Little) and Mary Jane Holdright.<ref name=dib>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/little-patrick-john-p-j-a4851|title=Little, Patrick John|last=Coleman|first=Marie|work=[Dictionary of Irish Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_Irish_Biography)|access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=it_obit>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1963/0517/Pg009.html|title=Obituary – Mr. Patrick J. Little|newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)|url-access=subscription|date=17 May 1963|page=9|access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> Both his parents were Canadian natives, while his father had served as the first [Premier of Newfoundland](/source/Premier_of_Newfoundland_and_Labrador) before settling in Ireland.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal|year=1937|volume=71|pages=237|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoYvAQAAIAAJ&q=%22PJ+little%22|access-date=8 December 2012|title=Patrick Little|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923103608/https://books.google.com/books?id=YoYvAQAAIAAJ&q=%22PJ+little%22|url-status=live}}</ref> Here he became involved in the [Irish Home Rule Movement](/source/Irish_Home_Rule_Movement).

Little was educated at [Clongowes Wood College](/source/Clongowes_Wood_College),<ref>{{cite book|last=Costello|first=Peter|title=Clongowes Wood: a history of Clongowes Wood College, 1814–1989|year=1989|publisher=Gill and Macmillan|pages=202|url=http://www.google.ie/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=Clongowes+Wood+pj+little&btnG=#hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=bks&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22nor+the+careers+of+P.J.+Little%22&oq=%22nor+the+careers+of+P.J.+Little%22&gs_l=serp.12...24866.28815.1.31097.3.3.0.0.0.0.42.118.3.3.0...0.0...1c.1j2.s-Xyya0xe4Y&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=a664e060913b8b7f&bpcl=39650382&biw=1366&bih=549|access-date=8 December 2012|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923103626/https://www.google.ie/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=Clongowes+Wood+pj+little&btnG=&gws_rd=ssl#hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=bks&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22nor+the+careers+of+P.J.+Little%22&oq=%22nor+the+careers+of+P.J.+Little%22&gs_l=serp.12...24866.28815.1.31097.3.3.0.0.0.0.42.118.3.3.0...0.0...1c.1j2.s-Xyya0xe4Y&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=a664e060913b8b7f&bpcl=39650382&biw=1366&bih=549|url-status=live}}</ref> before later attending [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin). Here he studied law and qualified as a solicitor in 1914.<ref name=it_obit/>

==Revolutionary years==
Little was engaged in the independence struggle from an early stage. Following the [Easter Rising](/source/Easter_Rising) in 1916, he formed, together with [Stephen O'Mara](/source/Stephen_O'Mara_(senator)), the Irish Nation League, who while being opposed to the [Irish Parliamentary Party](/source/Irish_Parliamentary_Party) and supportive of abstentionism, were wary of the militarism of the [Irish Volunteers](/source/Irish_Volunteers). In 1918 the Volunteers, the Irish Nation League, and the Liberty Clubs, followers of [George Noble Plunkett](/source/George_Noble_Plunkett), agreed to merge under the [Sinn Féin](/source/Sinn_F%C3%A9in) banner with [Éamon de Valera](/source/%C3%89amon_de_Valera) as President to fight the [1918 general election](/source/1918_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Ireland) on an [abstentionist](/source/abstentionism) platform.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Resurrection of Ireland: The Sinn Féin Party, 1916–1923|first=Michael |last=Laffan}}</ref>

Little contested the constituency of [Dublin Rathmines](/source/Dublin_Rathmines) but lost to Unionist [Maurice Dockrell](/source/Maurice_Dockrell_(Unionist_politician)),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1918&cons=101|title=General Election: 1918 – Dublin Rathmines|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=18 July 2012|archive-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523003442/http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1918&cons=101|url-status=live}}</ref> the only Unionist elected in the area that would become [Irish Free State](/source/Irish_Free_State) outside of [Dublin University](/source/Dublin_University_(constituency)). He remained in the background of Sinn Féin for the next number of years. In 1921 he was sent to South Africa to represent the government of the [Irish Republic](/source/Irish_Republic). He opposed the [Anglo-Irish Treaty](/source/Anglo-Irish_Treaty) and fought with the Four Courts Garrison during the [Civil War](/source/Irish_Civil_War).<ref name=it_obit/>

He became the first editor of ''[An Phoblacht](/source/An_Phoblacht)'' in 1925.<ref name=TWILIGHT>{{cite book |url=http://www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/The_IRA_in_the_Twilight_Years_1923_to_1948_Uinseann_Mac_Eoin-compressed.pdf |first=Uinseann |last=MacEoin |title=The IRA in the twilight years: 1923–1948 |isbn=9780951117248 |publisher=Argenta |location=Dublin |date=1997 |via=Irish Military Archives |access-date=8 May 2020 |pages=2, 117 |archive-date=17 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517021812/http://www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/The_IRA_in_the_Twilight_Years_1923_to_1948_Uinseann_Mac_Eoin-compressed.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He also edited other republican newspapers including ''[New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(newspaper))'', ''Éire'' and ''Sinn Féin''.<ref name=it_obit/>

==Political career==
Little joined [Fianna Fáil](/source/Fianna_F%C3%A1il) shortly after its foundation in 1926. He was first elected to [Dáil Éireann](/source/D%C3%A1il_%C3%89ireann) as a [TD](/source/Teachta_D%C3%A1la) for the [Waterford](/source/Waterford_(D%C3%A1il_constituency)) constituency at the [June 1927 general election](/source/June_1927_Irish_general_election). He represented the constituency until 1954.<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-J-Little.D.1927-06-23/|title=Mr. Patrick J. Little|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102071505/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-J-Little.D.1927-06-23/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=elecs_irl/>

Little was appointed [Government Chief Whip](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_the_Taoiseach) and [Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for External Affairs](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_Trade) in 1933.<ref name=it_obit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1933-03-01/35/|title=Appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (8th Dáil)|date=1 March 1933|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> Little was appointed [Minister for Posts and Telegraphs](/source/Minister_for_Posts_and_Telegraphs) in 1939<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1939-09-27/37/|title=Nomination of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)|date=27 September 1939|access-date=28 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828104334/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1939-09-27/37/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1939-09-28/2/|title=Appointment of Minister – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)|date=28 September 1939|access-date=11 July 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714091814/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1939-09-28/2/|url-status=live}}</ref> and remained in this office until 1948, when Fianna Fáil failed to form a government.<ref name=oireachtas_db/> He was not reappointed to the cabinet when Fianna Fáil returned to office in 1951. In 1952, following the death of [Bridget Redmond](/source/Bridget_Redmond), Fianna Fáil won the resulting by-election and held three out of four seats in the constituency. This would have been unsustainable at the [next general election](/source/1954_Irish_general_election) so Little did not contest the 1954 general election.<ref name=oireachtas_db/>

==Retirement==
He was the first chairman of the Arts Council from 1951 until 1956.<ref name=it_obit/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/DreamsandResponsibilities.pdf|title=Dreams and Responsibilities|year=1990|work=Arts Council|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=11 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111002954/http://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/DreamsandResponsibilities.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> He was responsible for the development of the [Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra](/source/RT%C3%89_National_Symphony_Orchestra).<ref name=it_obit/> In 1957 he was appointed to the [Council of State](/source/Council_of_State_(Ireland)) by [Seán T. O'Kelly](/source/Se%C3%A1n_T._O'Kelly).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1957/0716/Pg001.html#Ar00118|title=Mr Little a member of Council of State|date=16 July 1957|newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)|url-access=subscription|page=1|access-date=8 December 2012|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022133215/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1957/0716/Pg001.html#Ar00118|url-status=live}}</ref> He was re-appointed to the Council by [Éamon de Valera](/source/%C3%89amon_de_Valera) in 1959.<ref name=it_obit/>

Little died in May 1963.<ref name=oireachtas_db/> He is a grand-uncle of [Green Party](/source/Green_Party_(Ireland)) MEP [Ciarán Cuffe](/source/Ciar%C3%A1n_Cuffe).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dail-family-trees-show-clans-who-rule-ireland-1990157.html|work=[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)|title=Dáil family trees show clans who rule Ireland|date=27 December 2009|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022114550/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dail-family-trees-show-clans-who-rule-ireland-1990157.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[Families in the Oireachtas](/source/Families_in_the_Oireachtas)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} 
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before = [Gerald Boland](/source/Gerald_Boland)}}
{{s-ttl|title  = [Government Chief Whip](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_the_Taoiseach)
       |years  = 1933–1939}}
{{s-aft|after  = [Paddy Smith](/source/Patrick_Smith_(politician))|rows=2}}
{{s-vac}}
{{s-ttl|title  = [Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for External Affairs](/source/Minister_of_State_at_the_Department_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_Trade) 
       |years  = 1933–1939}}
{{s-bef|before = [Thomas Derrig](/source/Thomas_Derrig)}}
{{s-ttl|title  = [Minister for Posts and Telegraphs](/source/Minister_for_Posts_and_Telegraphs)
       |years  = 1939–1948}}
{{s-aft|after  = [James Everett](/source/James_Everett_(politician))}}
{{s-end}}
{{2nd Government of Ireland}}
{{3rd Government of Ireland}}
{{4th Government of Ireland}}
{{Government Chief Whip (Ireland)}}
{{Waterford (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Little, Patrick}}
Category:1884 births
Category:1963 deaths
Category:People of the Irish Civil War (Anti-Treaty side)
Category:Fianna Fáil TDs
Category:Members of the 5th Dáil
Category:Members of the 6th Dáil
Category:Members of the 7th Dáil
Category:Members of the 8th Dáil
Category:Members of the 9th Dáil
Category:Members of the 10th Dáil
Category:Members of the 11th Dáil
Category:Members of the 12th Dáil
Category:Members of the 13th Dáil
Category:Members of the 14th Dáil
Category:Presidential appointees to the Council of State (Ireland)
Category:People educated at Clongowes Wood College
Category:Alumni of University College Dublin
Category:Parliamentary secretaries of the 10th Dáil
Category:Parliamentary secretaries of the 9th Dáil
Category:Parliamentary secretaries of the 8th Dáil
Category:Government Chief Whip (Ireland)
Category:Sinn Féin parliamentary candidates
Category:Children of prime ministers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Patrick Little](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Little) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Little?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.