Kevin "Boxer" Moran

He was a member of Westmeath County Council from 1999 to 2016, and represented Fianna Fáil until 2011. In January 2006, he contested Fianna Fáil's nomination to stand at the 2007 general election, being narrowly defeated by Mary O'Rourke. He contested the 2014 by-election as an independent candidate, but failed to win a seat. He joined the Independent Alliance ahead of the 2016 general election. On 3 June 2017, he was appointed by the government as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief. This was part of arrangement with fellow Independent Alliance TD Seán Canney, who had been serving in that position. Moran's appointment lapsed on the resignation of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach later that month on 14 June. On 20 June 2017, Moran was appointed by the government formed by Leo Varadkar to the same position. He lost his seat at the 2020 general election, continuing to serve as a minister of state until the formation of a new government on 27 June 2020. In January 2022, he was expected to become a member of Westmeath County Council after his son Jamie resigned his position on the council due to work commitments. However his admission was not accepted by the majority of the incumbent council. He was elected at the 2024 Westmeath County Council election, topping the poll with 39.64% of the vote and being elected on the first count. At the 2024 general election, he regained a seat in Longford–Westmeath. In January 2025, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. ==Personal life==

Moran has said that he left school in his early teens due to severe, undiagnosed dyslexia and associated literacy difficulties. He has described attempting to conceal his difficulties at school by acting as a troublemaker so that he would be removed from class, and one local report stated that he was expelled from Marist College (Athlone) after a matter of weeks before leaving education completely. Moran has spoken publicly about mental health difficulties, including depression and panic attacks, and about an attempt to take his own life when he was a young man. Following his television interview on the subject, Moran told The Irish Times he received extensive correspondence from people affected by mental health and literacy issues and planned a meeting to bring people with literacy difficulties and mental health problems together with government ministers. In interviews, Moran has described dyslexia-related barriers affecting adults in employment and training, and he has said that people contacted him after his televised interview to describe difficulties with written examinations and access to supports. Moran is married to Michelle Fagg and has two children. In 2024, he publicly thanked his wife and wider family for their support and discussed the impact of abusive commentary on social media on political families. According to a Government of Ireland biography, Moran has been involved in organising community events in Athlone (including the Athlone St Patrick’s Day Parade and local festivals) and is a sports enthusiast with interests including angling; he has also been described as a long-time supporter of Athlone Town F.C. and local GAA and rugby events. A 2016 profile in The Irish Times described him as a keen angler who had promoted amenities around Lough Ree and been involved in flood-relief volunteering in Athlone. ==References==