he learned that his father Michael had died in the Hogan Stand shortly before the start of the second-half. In 1965 Donnellan added a fourth provincial medal to his collection. In the subsequent All-Ireland final against Kerry he was sent off but Galway were still victorious, giving Donnellan a second consecutive All-Ireland medal. The following year he won a fifth Connacht Championship title before qualifying for a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. Galway had a six-point win over Meath, thus giving Donnellan a third consecutive All-Ireland SFC medal and establishing that Galway team as one of the greatest of all time. In 1967 he won a Railway Cup medal with Connacht before winning a sixth and final provincial medal in 1968. Donnellan retired from inter-county football shortly after. Political career Donnellan's father Michael died suddenly in September 1964, and at the resulting by-election in December John was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for the Galway East constituency. He was successful at the next eight general elections, with changes of constituency; to Galway North-East in 1969, back to Galway East in 1977, and from 1981 to 1989 for Galway West. In December 1982, he was appointed by Garret FitzGerald as Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and Minister of State at the Department of Transport. In 1983, he was re-assigned as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare with special responsibility for public health and social welfare information. He served until Fine Gael left office after the 1987 general election. Donnellan retired from politics at the 1989 general election. See also Families in the Oireachtas References 1937 births Living people All-Ireland-winning captains (football) John Dunmore McHales Gaelic footballers Galway inter-county Gaelic footballers Fine Gael TDs Irish farmers Irish sportsperson-politicians Members of the 17th Dáil Members of the 18th Dáil Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil Members of the 21st Dáil Members of the 22nd Dáil Members of the 23rd Dáil Members of the 24th Dáil Members of the 25th Dáil Ministers of State of the 24th Dáil Politicians from County Galway