*Dr Brian Hillery. Photograph: Frank McGrath

A Clare native who served as a TD and Senator has died.

Dr Brian Hillery died on Tuesday after a short illness aged 83. A relation of the former President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery, Brian was a native of Miltown Malbay.

He served as a Senator from 1977 to 1982, 1983 to 1989 and 1992 to 1997 and as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency from 1989 to 1992. From 1974 until 1988, Dr Hillery was Professor of Industrial Relations at UCD.

Following on from a career in politics and academia, Brian was appointed as Ireland and Denmark’s representative on the board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) from 1994 to 1997.He was also a director of the Central Bank of Ireland and a member of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission and chairman of Providence Resources.

Hillery was also a board member for several private sector businesses. Independent News & Media (INM) was among these, he was a director there from 2003 until his retirement in October 2011, he succeeded Tony O’Reilly as chairman and was replaced by James Osborne.

Brian is survived by his wife Miriam (née Davy), daughter Cliona and sons Conor, Eugene, Brian and Gavin.

Related News

lidl shannon
Planning granted for bigger Lidl store to replace existing Shannon supermarket
ballyalla 14-03-25 1
Red flag raised at Ballyalla as bathing ban introduced
Rescue 115, the Shannon based Sikorsky S-92 helicopter
Four medical evacuations for Shannon-based Rescue 115 in one day
Ennistymon sign || Inset: Cllr Bill Slattery
Farmers raise concerns over poor condition of Ennistymon road
Latest News
Mountshannon Harbour || Inset: Cllr Pat Burke
Calls for action over 'bad state' of Mountshannon Harbour
ennistymon vs kilmihil 16-08-26 diarmuid fahy 1
'We want to win every day we go out' - Ennistymon eye up top spot
lidl shannon
Planning granted for bigger Lidl store to replace existing Shannon supermarket
scariff ogonnelloe vs truagh clonlara 21-08-26 linda rachael daly bonnie wiley murphy 1
Successive wins for Inamona & Scariff/Ogonelloe while Kilmaley & Feakle/Killanena get off the mark
roisin mcmahon 1
Roisin Mc revels in middle of the park to win player of the week
Premium
Kilmurry Ibrickane taking group form with a pinch of salt
'Extremely disappointing' campaign has St Breckans on brink of relegation battle but return of 'missing element' offers Spa hope
Council stalls 171 unit residential scheme for former 'lunatic asylum' site due to bat and rodent concerns
63 Clare GP practices received €22m in 2025 to provide medical card scheme services
Defining game awaits Doonbeg with either quarter-final or relegation battle on the cards

Annual Subscription!

The Clare Echo annual subscription for just €69.99 a year. 

Prefer to pay monthly? Click the monthly option and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. 

Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.