Brid Rodgers

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Bríd Rodgers
MLA
In office 1998 – 2003
Constituency	Upper Bann
Born	February 20, 1935 (age 72) Gweedore, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland
Political party	Social Democratic and Labour Party
Website	SDLP profile

Bríd Rodgers born Bríd Stratford (born 20 February 1935 in Gweedore, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland)(Irish: Bríd Mhic Ruairí) is a former Irish nationalist politician.

Although born and brought up in the Republic of Ireland, she was politically active in Northern Ireland, where she was deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann.

Rodgers was educated in Monaghan and University College, Dublin, and has lived in Northern Ireland since 1960. She was involved in the Civil Rights Movement from 1965. She was a founder member of the SDLP, becoming Chairman in 1978 and General Secretary in 1981. In 1983 she was appointed to the Irish Senate by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, and served until 1987.

Rodgers was a leader of the SDLP team in the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the constituency of Upper Bann in June 1998. She was elected to the first Northern Ireland Executive in November 1999 as Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development, and remained in that position until the suspension of the Executive in October 2002. She became deputy leader of the SDLP in November 2001. She stood down as MLA at the Assembly elections of November 2003, and as deputy leader in February 2004, when she was replaced by Alasdair McDonnell.

Rodgers is married with six children.

Preceded by Seamus Mallon	Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 2001-2004;	Succeeded by Alasdair McDonnell;
Preceded by None	Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann 1998-2003	Succeeded by Dolores Kelly