Seán Kenny was last elected as a Labour TD for Dublin North East in the 2011 General Election to the 31st Dáil, and served as a member of that Dail until February 2016, when he retired from electoral politics.

He also served in Dáil Eireann in the 27th Dáil between 1992 until 1997. During his years of service in Dáil Eireann, he was a member of several Oireachtas Committees - Environment, Transport, Culture, Gaeltacht, Justice, Defence & Equality and Public Scrutiny, Oversight and Petitions. He has acted as Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee during the 27th Dail and Vice-Chair of the Transport and Communications Committee during the 31st Dail.

Between 1992 and 1997, on the nomination of Labour Leader and Tanaiste Dick Spring, he served as a member of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation which eventually lead to the Good Friday Agreement and culminated in Northern Ireland Peace Process.

He was first elected to Dublin City Council for the Labour Party in 1979 and as a City Councillor, continuously represented Dublin’s Northside up to 2011. He served a term as Dublin Lord Mayor in 1991-1992 during Dublin’s year as European City of Culture in 1991. As Lord Mayor in 1992 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Law by Trinity College Dublin as part of the College’s Quarter Centenary Celebrations.

A native of County Galway, he was educated at Garbally College, Ballinasloe.