Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore (born 24 April 1955) is a European Union diplomat, and an Irish former Labour Party politician. He serves as European Union Special Representative for Human Rights since February 2019. He is also the European Union Special Envoy for the Colombian Peace Process since 2015. He was Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2011 to 2014, Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2014, Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe from 2012 to 2013, Minister of State at the Department of the Marine from 1994 to 1997. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency from 1989 to 2016.
Eamon Gilmore | |
|---|---|
Gilmore in 2014 | |
| EU Special Representative for Human Rights | |
| In office 1 March 2019 – 29 February 2024 | |
| President | Jean-Claude Juncker Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Stavros Lambrinidis |
| EU Special Representative for the Colombian Peace Process | |
| In office 1 October 2015 – 19 February 2019 | |
| President | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 9 March 2011 – 4 July 2014 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Mary Coughlan |
| Succeeded by | Joan Burton |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 9 March 2011 – 11 July 2014 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Brian Cowen (Foreign Affairs) Mary Hanafin (Trade) |
| Succeeded by | Charles Flanagan |
| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 6 September 2007 – 4 July 2014 | |
| Deputy | Joan Burton |
| Preceded by | Pat Rabbitte |
| Succeeded by | Joan Burton |
| Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | |
| In office 1 January 2012 – 18 December 2013 | |
| Secretary-General | Lamberto Zannier |
| Preceded by | Audronius Ažubalis |
| Succeeded by | Leonid Kozhara |
| Minister of State | |
| 1994–1997 | Marine |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1989 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Dún Laoghaire |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1955 Caltra, County Galway, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party (1999–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse |
Carol Hanney (m. 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Garbally College |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
| Website | gilmore |
At the 2011 general election he led the Labour Party to its best electoral performance, with a record 37 Dáil seats. Labour entered into a coalition government with Fine Gael, with Gilmore being appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs he led Ireland's seventh presidency of the European Council during the first half of 2013. Throughout 2012, he held the role of Chairperson-In-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Born in County Galway, Gilmore graduated from University College Galway (UCG), becoming President of the Union of Students in Ireland. Later, he entered local politics and worked as a trade union organiser. As a Democratic Left TD, he helped to negotiate that party's merger with Labour. Gilmore was elected unopposed as Labour Party leader in 2007; he resigned the post in July 2014, and was succeeded by Joan Burton.