John Hooper (1846 – 23 November 1897) was an Irish nationalist journalist, politician and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, and as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party represented South-East Cork from 1885 to 1889.
He began his career on the Cork Herald, and later joined the staff of the Freeman's Journal, serving as its Parliamentary correspondent for a considerable time.
[1] In December 1887, he was imprisoned in Tullamore prison, along with Timothy Daniel Sullivan for publishing reports of suppressed branches of the Irish National League.
He is mentioned in James Joyce's Ulysses when a matrimonial gift of a stuffed owl given by "Alderman Hooper" is described along with a number of items sitting on a mantelpiece.
[4] Two of his sons, William and Richard won International soccer caps[clarification needed] for Ireland.