Colm Burke

Colm Burke ( born January 17, 1957 in Cork) is an Irish politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the electoral district of southern Ireland for Fine Gael, as a member of the Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats.

Burke grew up in Dripsey in County Cork. He attended the University College Cork in 1978 and received his degree in civil law. In 1982, he admitted to the bar and he became a member of the Irish Bar. In the following time Burke was in Cork in his own law firm Colm Burke and Co. until 2007 worked as a lawyer.

His political career began as a member of the youth wing of Fine Gael, which was founded in 1977 Young Fine Gael. In 1978 he became a member of the company founded in the same year the Board of the Young Fine Gael. Furthermore, Burke was 1980-1981 chairman of the youth organization and 1981-1982 Member of the National Council of Fine Gael. In 1982 he resigned from his position as a member of the board of Young Fine Gael.

Between May 1995 and June 2007 Burke was a member of the city council of Cork. During this time he was from July 2003 to June 2004 Lord Mayor of Cork. June 2007 replaced Burke MEPs Simon Coveney, who had to give up his seat in the European Parliament since he was a deputy in the Irish Parliament and also a double mandate was no longer permitted. In the 2009 European elections Burke could not defend his position.