[2] He was educated at Synge Street CBS school and University College Dublin (UCD), where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
He did secure election to Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel, becoming the youngest-ever Senator at the time.
He retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it in the 1989 election[3] On becoming Fine Gael leader, Garret FitzGerald appointed Boland to the Opposition front bench as spokesperson on Health; he later served as spokesperson on the Environment.
In 1981, Fine Gael formed a government with the Labour Party, with Boland becoming Minister for Education.
Boland changed the law so that civil servants could no longer refuse to provide their names, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
[2] Many people paid tribute upon his death, including former Taoisigh FitzGerald and John Bruton.