Martin Ferris (born 28 March 1952) is a former Irish Sinn Féin politician and former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 2002 to 2020. Early and personal life Ferris was born in Strand Street in Tralee, County Kerry, in 1952. His father was a farmer who was also a caretaker for Barrow House, which was at that time owned by an aunt. He was educated locally at Barrow National School, St Mary's CBS, and Tralee Technical School. He left school early, working on his family's farm and as a fisherman. His father died from a stroke in 1970. Martin met his wife, Máire (), after his release from Portlaoise Prison in 1977. They married in January 1978 and have six children. A daughter, Toiréasa, is a former Cathaoirleach (chairperson) of Kerry County Council and Kerry County Councillor for the Tralee electoral area. Gaelic football career Ferris played in the Cotter Cup at the under-14 age group as a back. He played as centre forward for Churchill GAA. He began his inter-county career in 1972 playing Under-21 football for Kerry. He lined out as a forward, beating Cork at the Munster final, although the team was beaten by Galway at the All Ireland Final. Despite being on the run, he was selected in 1973. He won an All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship medal with Kerry, beating Mayo 2–12 to 0–13. His career was interrupted by his imprisonment later that year. After being released he resumed playing for Churchill and was selected by Mick O'Dwyer to play for the Seniors in 1978. Ferris left the Kerry training panel after the Munster final that year (in which he was unable to play), owing to poor health and Garda Special Branch surveillance. IRA activity Ferris joined the Provisional IRA shortly after the death of his father on 29 May 1970. Aged 18, he was sworn in by Paddy Kelly and Liam Cotter, a former vice-chairman of the Kerry County Board of the GAA. The IRA in Kerry was under the direction of the IRA's Southern Command, whose main responsibility was to support IRA activity in Northern Ireland. From September 1974 to February 1975, Ferris was on the run. He was suspected of having taken part in a robbery at the Tralee post office, which resulted in £74,000 being stolen, and a robbery at the Chase Manhattan Bank