Patrick Lane (7 September 1934 â 23 July 2012) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was president of the Irish Farmers' Association from 1976 to 1980 and elected Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1989 to 1994. Lane played multiple competitions including rugby union for Ireland, earning a single cap in 1964.
Paddy Lane was born in Quinpool, Parteen, County Clare, Ireland to Thomas Lane and Gertrude McCormack who were running the family farm. He studied at Crescent College, where he started playing rugby. He is a cousin of Irish politicians Richard Hourigan and Neasa Hourigan.
He later joined the army and where we was promoted to the rank of Captain. Paddy played for Munster against the All-Blacks in 1963. He won a cap for the Irish rugby team against Wales in 1964 as hooker.
He was elected to the European Parliament at the 1989 European election for the Munster constituency. He was a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development in the European Parliament. He lost his seat at the 1994 European election.