9 Sept 1930 - 22 June 2017. senator, pro-Life activist, his wife Mona was awarded the Cross Pro Ecclesia for in relation to the cause of St. Padre Pio. He was elected a member of North Tipperary County Council in 1955. He was subsequently elected Chairman of the County Council in 1956. In 1957, he conducted a three-month tour of the United States, during which he was commissioned a Kentucky colonel, by then Kentucky Governor Albert "Happy" Chandler. He was also awarded the freedom of Louisville, Kentucky and received by Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Hanafin was re-elected to North Tipperary County Council in 1960, polling 797 first preference votes. In 1961, he voted against the Fianna Fáil nominee for Chair of the County Council, Thomas F. Meagher and in favour of the Clann na Poblachta nominee, Michael F. Cronin, who was elected by 10 votes to 9. He held the seat until 1985. He was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and retained his seat until the 1993 Seanad election at which he lost his seat by one vote. He regained his seat at the 1997 Elections and retired from politics in 2002. Hanafin operated the Anner Hotel in Thurles during the 1960s, while initially successful, the business failed in 1967. He was a chief fundraiser of the Fianna Fáil party for many years. He married, Mona Brady, daughter of J.P. Brady, on 28 August 1958 in Clonmel, Tipperary. Their first child, Mary Hanafin, was born in June 1959, followed by John Hanafin in September 1960. Mary Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil TD and minister, and John Hanafin is a former Fianna Fáil Senator
