Lenihan, Patrick James (1902–70), civil servant, company director, and TD, was born 4 September 1902 in Lickeen, Ennistimon, Co. Clare, son of Patrick Lenihan, national school teacher, and Hannah Lenihan (née McIherney). Educated at St Joseph's College, Ballinasloe, and UCG, he graduated BA, a year late because of his involvement with the IRA during the war of independence (1919–21). Following graduation he taught at Christian Brothers' schools in Belfast for two years (1925–7). After a short period with the defence forces he joined (1927) the civil service as an inspector of taxes (1927–37). Initially based in Athlone, he subsequently worked in Dundalk, Cork, Tralee, and Dublin.
In 1937 he left the civil service and returned to Athlone to become company secretary to General Textiles Ltd, a manufacturing concern with sixty employees. Five years later (1942) he became managing director of the company and in the same year entered political life when he was elected to Westmeath county council, of which he later became chairman. His career in industry and local politics brought him to national prominence and he was appointed to sit (1953–6) on the committee of inquiry into taxation on industry, as well as the board of Coras Trachtála Teo.
By the time he left General Textiles in 1962 he had transformed the business from a local concern to one of national importance with a workforce of more than 700 people. After his retirement from General Textiles he established the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, where he lived until shortly before his death. Involvement with the tourist industry led to his election as chairman of the Midland Tourist Association, a post he held until 1969. In April 1965 he entered national politics when he successfully stood as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the general election for the four-seat Longford–Westmeath constituency, defeating Gen. Seán Mac Eoin (qv) of Fine Gael by just thirteen votes. Despite the narrow margin of this victory, he was returned at the general election in June 1969 and sat on the public accounts committee of the nineteenth dáil until his death. He was also a director of the Irish Life Assurance Co. and Irish Base Metals Ltd. and chairman of Banagher Tiles Ltd.
Apart from his careers in business and politics he took a deep interest in sport and amateur dramatics. He played both rugby and Gaelic football for UCG and represented Antrim in Gaelic football while teaching in Belfast. He was chairman of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland for a long period and played a significant role in the organisation of the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival held in Athlone every year. Patrick J. Lenihan lived at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, until three years before his death, when he moved to Bonnavalley, Athlone. He died 11 March 1970 at the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
He married Anne Scanlon of Sligo. They had two sons and two daughters, including the government ministers Brian Lenihan (qv) and Mary O'Rourke (b. 1937).