Aidan Larkin
Aidan J. Larkin (31 March 1946 – 31 March 2019) was a former Irish nationalist politician.
Born near Cookstown, County Tyrone, Larkin studied at St Patrick's College, Armagh, University College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast. He qualified in law and joined the Bar of Northern Ireland, but worked instead as a teacher before becoming a full-time activist in the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).[1]
A founder member of the SDLP, Larkin was its first chairman in Magherafelt,[1] at the 1973 Northern Ireland local elections, Larkin was elected to Magherafelt District Council,[2] and later in the year he won a seat in Mid Ulster on the Northern Ireland Assembly. However, he narrowly lost his seat at the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention election in 1975,[3] and left politics a few years later.
Larkin died on his 73rd birthday in 2019,[4] having had Parkinson's disease for several years.[5]
References
- ^ a b Ted Nealon, Ireland: a Parliamentary Directory, 1973–1974, p.208
- ^ "The Local Government Elections 1973–1981: Magherafelt", Northern Ireland Elections
- ^ "Mid-Ulster 1973–1982", Northern Ireland Elections
- ^ "Fr Aidan Larkin: SDLP politician and lawyer who became missionary priest". The Irish News. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Larkin, Colm (8 July 2019). "Fr Aidan Larkin played a leading role in development of SDLP". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 July 2025.