Description
Jim Kemmy was an Irish socialist politician from Limerick, who started his political career in the Labour Party. He later left Labour, was elected as an independent Teachta Dála (TD), and founded the Democratic Socialist Party, which merged with the Labour Party in the 1990s. Kemmy was born on September 14, 1936 in Limerick, Ireland. He worked as a bricklayer for Limerick City Council for many years before entering politics. Kemmy was elected to Limerick City Council in 1974 after a ban on council workers standing for election was lifted. He stood unsuccessfully as an independent candidate for Dáil Éireann in the Limerick East constituency at the 1977 general election. His second attempt, at the 1981 general election, was successful, and he was elected to the 22nd Dáil. Kemmy died on September 25, 1997 at the age of 61.