# Thomas P. O'Neill III

> Thomas P. O'Neill III is the Boston-based founder and chief executive of O'Neill and Associates and a founding partner of Seven Letter. A Massachusetts state representative from 1973 to 1974 and lieutenant governor from 1975 to 1983, he built a second career in government relations and communications. The eldest son of former US House Speaker Tip O'Neill, he has also supported education, Irish cultural organisations and community projects in Ireland.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at O'Neill and Associates
- **Organizations:** O'Neill and Associates, Seven Letter, Massachusetts House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bay State Investors, Boston College, Cristo Rey Boston High School, Regis College, International Fund for Animal Welfare, American Ireland Fund, Boston Irish Abbey Theatre Association, RISE Community Fund
- **From:** Cambridge, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** North Cambridge Catholic High School, Bachelor’s degree, Boston College, Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School
- **Known for:** Served eight years as Massachusetts lieutenant governor., Created Massachusetts’ Office of Federal-State Relations in Boston and Washington., Founded the business that became O’Neill and Associates in 1991.

## Career timeline

- **1973-1974** — Represented Cambridge and Belmont in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
- **1975-1983** — Served as lieutenant governor of Massachusetts under Michael Dukakis and Edward J. King; established and administered the Office of Federal-State Relations.
- **1982** — Sought the Democratic nomination for governor but failed to make the ballot following party rule changes.
- **1983** — Founded Bay State Investors, advising on government relations.
- **1991** — Formed McDermott/O’Neill, predecessor of O’Neill and Associates.
- **1999** — Was chief executive of GPC International/O’Neill & Associates and responsible for US operations following GPC’s purchase.
- **2004** — His firm began sponsoring the corporate work-study programme at Cristo Rey Boston.
- **2013** — As president of the Abbey Theatre’s Boston foundation chapter, hosted a dinner for prospective supporters.
- **2020** — O’Neill and Associates merged its strategic communications practice with Seven Letter.
- **2022** — Agreed to serve as honorary advisory board chair of the new Tip O’Neill civics centre at Cambridge Matignon.
- **2026** — Visited Scoil Naomh Bríd in Muff with Shelly O’Neill to present a RISE Community Fund technology grant.

## Achievements

- Served eight years as Massachusetts lieutenant governor.
- Created Massachusetts’ Office of Federal-State Relations in Boston and Washington.
- Founded the business that became O’Neill and Associates in 1991.
- Served as a longtime board chair of Cristo Rey Boston.
- Became first president of the Boston Irish Abbey Theatre Association.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Donegal County Council reported Tom and Shelly O’Neill’s visit to Scoil Naomh Bríd in Muff to present RISE funding for Chromebooks and a transport trolley, following the 2026 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards.
- **2025-10** — His firm welcomed two Cristo Rey Boston work-study students and reaffirmed its sponsorship of the programme since 2004.

## Links

- Website: https://oneillandassoc.com/team/thomas-p-oneill-iii
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toneill1/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/thomas-p-oneill-iii
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22