When Mr. Leyden was chosen to serve on the Roscommon County Council in 1974, he made his political debut 50 years ago.

He was selected in 1977 to serve as a TD for Roscommon-Leitrim and had a number of junior cabinet positions.

After serving in the Seanad for eighteen years, Mr. Leyden retired in 2020. He has been named Honorary Consul for the Republic of Azerbaijan upon the nomination of IIham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On Friday, May 31, 2024, in the Azerbaijani Embassy in London, he was given his official paperwork by Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, Envoy to the United Kingdom and Ireland (non-resident).