Eddie McGraddy - A Personal Profile

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Eddie McGrady MP For South Down - Personal Profile

I am one of 11 children and was born and raised in Market Street, Downpatrick where my father ran a clothing shop. I undertook my secondary education at St Patrick's Grammar School in Downpatrick, and Belfast Technical College where I gained my qualification as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Before being elected to Westminster in 1987 I was involved with politics at the District level since my early 20’s. I married Patricia (nee Swail) and have three children, one girl and two boys. My interests include Gaelic football, at a local level with Saul GAC and also County level, walking in the local Lecale and Mourne countryside and spending time with my family.

Political Career:

Elected to the New Ireland Forum in 1984.
Member of Parliament for South Down since 1987
Appointed to newly formed Northern Ireland Select Affairs Committee, Westminster 1994
Member of Parliamentary Groups on homelessness and the environment 1987
Director and Chairman of the Social Democratic Group Ltd 1985-89
Director and First Chairman of Jobspace (NI) 1985-93, now known as Down Business Centre
First Chairman and former member of Down/Chicago Link Ltd
President Down/Chicago Link since January 2000
Front bench member of SDLP talks team at the Inter-Party Talks in 1991
SDLP Parliamentary Chief Whip since 1988
SDLP spokesman for Housing, Environment and Local Government
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Committee
Member of the New Northern Ireland Assembly 1998
June 2001, re-elected as Member of Parliament for South Down
Member of the Policing Board since November 2001
May 2005, re-elected as Member of Parliament for South Down
Member of All-Party Group on Deafness