Limerick minister says his new role 'can do good for communities across country'

PATRICK O’Donovan, who has been re-appointed to Cabinet, says his new ministry has “the potential to do a huge amount of good for communities” nationally.

The County Limerick TD made the step up to the senior government ranks in the last Dail, where he served as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Now, following his Dail re-election in November, he has been moved to a newly-merged department.

He will serve as Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.

Notably, in the role, he will be the Minister responsible for Adare’s staging of the centenary Ryder Cup in 2027.

Speaking to Limerick Live this Monday at the launch of another sporting event, the Regeneron Great Limerick Run set for May, Mr O’Donovan said: “There are massive opportunities, it's a great department. It touches every community across the country either through sport, broadband, through the media, through arts and culture. It's a very varied department.

“There is the potential to do a huge amount of good for communities, individuals and the economy, and I am really looking forward to it,” he added.

Over the coming days, the Newcastle West man will be meeting senior officials within the newly-created department.

“It’s a fairly big department. It covers two old departments - the former Department of Communications and the Department of Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. So I’ve a day ahead of me meeting senior officials just seeing where the opportunities and the problems lie in the areas, and try and get their feet under the table as quick as they can,” he added.

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Mr O'Donovan was first elected as a TD for Limerick at the 2011 General Election.

He retained his seat in 2016 and 2020.

He was returned for a fourth occasion in last November's election, being the first member elected in the three-seat Limerick County constituency.

Married to Eileen, he is the father of three children - one boy and two girls.

He was co-opted onto the old Limerick County Council in 2003 to replace former TD Michael Finucane following the end of the dual mandate, which allowed councillors to serve in the Dail at the same time.

A former teacher, he retained his council seat at the 2004 and 2009 local elections, before beating William O’Donnell onto the Fine Gael ticket to contest the 2011 General Election.

He was appointed to serve in Simon Harris's first Cabinet.

Previous to this, he was Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport then Junior Minister at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

He also served at the Office of Public Works.

Mr O’Donovan is Limerick’s only representative in the Cabinet.