Charles McDonald (born 11 June 1935) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician.

[1] He was a Senator from 1961 to 1973 and from 1977 to 1992, a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1973 to 1977, and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1973 to 1979.

He lost his seat in Dáil Éireann at 1977 general election, and although he stood in the next four general elections, he never returned to the Dáil.

[2] McDonald was appointed as a Member of the European Parliament in 1973, one of Ireland's first delegation of MEPs, who at that time MEPs were appointed as a delegation by national parliaments.

He was re-appointed to the second and third delegations, but at the first direct election in 1979, he did not win a seat when he stood in the Leinster constituency.