Pat "the Cope" Gallagher

Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
Gallagher in 2024
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
November 2024
In office
February 2016  February 2020
ConstituencyDonegal
In office
May 2002  4 June 2009
In office
June 1981  June 1997
ConstituencyDonegal South-West
Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
7 July 2016  10 February 2020
Ceann ComhairleSeán Ó Fearghaíl
Preceded byMichael P. Kitt
Succeeded byCatherine Connolly
Minister of State
2007–2008Health and Children
2006–2007Transport
2004–2006 Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
2002–2004Environment, Heritage and Local Government
1993–1994Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
1992–1993Marine
1989–1993Gaeltacht
1987–1989Marine
Member of the European Parliament
In office
1 July 2009  20 May 2014
ConstituencyNorth-West
In office
1 July 1994  30 June 2002
ConstituencyConnacht–Ulster
Personal details
Born
Patrick Gallagher

(1948-03-10) 10 March 1948
Burtonport, County Donegal, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Ann Gillespie
(m. 1970)
Children5
Alma materUniversity College Galway
Websitepatthecope.com

Patrick Gallagher (Irish: Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; born 10 March 1948) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 1981 to 1997, 2002 to 2009, 2016 to 2020. He served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2016 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 1987 to 1994 and from 2002 to 2008. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1994 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2014.