Editing Albert Reynolds (section)

== Early life and education ==
Albert Martin Reynolds was born on 3 November 1932 in [[Kilglas]], near [[Roosky]], on the [[County Roscommon]]–[[County Leitrim|Leitrim]] border.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ryan |first=Tim |title=Albert Reynolds: The Longford Leader: The Unauthorised Biography |date=1994 |publisher=Blackwater Press |location=Dublin |isbn=978-0-86121-549-2 |pages=3–4 |url=https://archive.org/details/albertreynoldslo0000ryan |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="peacemaking">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/world/europe/albert-reynolds-ex-prime-minister-of-ireland-dies-at-81.html|title=Albert Reynolds Dies at 81; Peacemaking Irish Premier|last=Dalby|first=Douglas|date=21 August 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=22 August 2014|archive-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227064159/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/world/europe/albert-reynolds-ex-prime-minister-of-ireland-dies-at-81.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> His father was a carpenter and [[coachbuilder]]. Reynolds's political opponents often referred to him as a '[[country bumpkin]]' due to his background.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27140625| title=Obituary: Albert Reynolds| work=BBC News| date=21 August 2014| access-date=21 June 2018| archive-date=11 October 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011234346/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27140625| url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1950s, he attended [[Summerhill College]], Sligo, and found work as a clerk with [[CIÉ]], the state transport service.<ref name=dib>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/reynolds-albert-a10167|title=Reynolds, Albert|work=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]]|last=Mansergh|first=Martin|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref> Reynolds later became involved in the [[showband]] scene, owning several [[dance hall]]s in his local area. He became wealthy during the 1960s when dance halls became extremely popular. He invested his money in numerous businesses, including a pet food company, a bacon factory, a fish exporting operation, and a [[hire purchase]] company.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Reynolds also had business interests in local newspapers and a cinema.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} He established business contacts at both national and International levels.

Despite the late-night nature of his business, Reynolds [[Teetotalism|abstained from alcohol]]. Reynolds married Kathleen Coen (1932–2021) in 1962, and they had seven children.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 May 2021 |title=Kathleen Reynolds obituary: 'Best adviser and toughest critic' of Albert Reynolds |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/kathleen-reynolds-obituary-best-adviser-and-toughest-critic-of-albert-reynolds-1.4563212 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513060633/https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/kathleen-reynolds-obituary-best-adviser-and-toughest-critic-of-albert-reynolds-1.4563212 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |access-date=20 November 2021 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>