Ciarán Cannon

Ciarán Cannon
Cannon in 2018
Minister of State
2017–2020Foreign Affairs and Trade
2011–2014Education and Skills
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2011  November 2024
ConstituencyGalway East
Senator
In office
13 September 2007  25 February 2011
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Leader of the Progressive Democrats
In office
17 April 2008  March 2009
Preceded byMary Harney
Succeeded byOffice Abolished
Personal details
Born (1965-09-19) 19 September 1965
Galway, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Niamh Lawless
(m. 1990)
Children1
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Ciarán Cannon (born 19 September 1965) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 2011 to 2024. He previously served as a senator for the Progressive Democrats and was the last elected leader of that party. He served as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2020. He served as a Senator from 2007 to 2011, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Before entering politics, he was a planning official for Galway City Council and Dublin City Council, as well as CEO and secretary of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. In 2002, he was honoured as one of the Galway People of the Year.