List of women in Dáil Éireann

This is a list of women Teachtaí Dála (TDs). It includes all women who have been elected to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the bicameral parliament of Ireland.

Contents

History

As of February 2011, a total of 92 women have been elected to the Dáil. The first woman TD was Constance Markievicz, elected in 1918 to the 1st Dáil,[1] and she was joined by five other women in the 2nd Dáil. The number fell to two in the 3rd Dáil, rose again and fell back to two in the 9th Dáil.

The 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil saw the tally exceed ten for the first time, when six newly-elected women brought the total to eleven. The arrival of nine newly-elected women TDs in 1992 brought a total of 20 women to the 27th Dáil.

25 women were elected at the 2011 general election to the 31st Dáil.[2]

Women in Dáil Éireann

Name First elected
b = by-election		 Constituency
where first elected		 Party
as first elected		 Age
when first elected		 Constituencies represented
Markievicz, ConstanceConstance Markievicz 1918 Dublin St Patrick's Sinn Féin
(Fianna Fáil from 1926)		 50 Dublin St Patrick's 1918–1921,
Dublin South 1921–27
Clarke, KathleenKathleen Clarke 1921 Dublin Mid Sinn Féin
(Fianna Fáil from 1926)		 43 Dublin Mid 1921–22, 1927
English, AdaAda English 1921 NUI Sinn Féin c.43 NUI 1921–22
MacSwiney, MaryMary MacSwiney 1921 Cork Borough Sinn Féin 49 Cork Borough 1921–27
O'Callaghan, KathleenKathleen O'Callaghan 1921 Limerick City–Lmk East Sinn Féin 33 Limerick City–Limerick East 1921–23
Pearse, MargaretMargaret Pearse 1921 Dublin County Sinn Féin 64 Dublin County 1921–22
Brugha, CaitlínCaitlín Brugha 1923 Waterford County Sinn Féin 43 Waterford County 1923–27
Collins-O'Driscoll, MargaretMargaret Collins-O'Driscoll 1923 Dublin North Cumann na nGaedheal 45 Dublin North 1923–33
Lynn, KathleenKathleen Lynn 1923 Dublin County Sinn Féin 49 Dublin County 1923–27
Reynolds, MaryMary Reynolds 1932 Sligo–Leitrim Cumann na nGaedheal
(Fine Gael from 1933)		 c.42 Sligo–Leitrim 1932–33, 1937–61
Concannon, HelenaHelena Concannon 1933 NUI Fianna Fáil 54 NUI 1933–37
Pearse, Margaret MaryMargaret Mary Pearse 1933 Dublin County Fianna Fáil 55 Dublin County 1933–37
Redmond, BridgetBridget Redmond 1933 Waterford Cumann na nGaedheal
(Fine Gael from 1933)		 28 Waterford 1933–52
Rice, BridgetBridget Rice 1938 Monaghan Fianna Fáil 53 Monaghan 1938–54
Ryan, MaryMary Ryan 1944 Tipperary Fianna Fáil 46 Tipperary 1944–48,
Tipperary North 1948–61
Crowley, HonorHonor Crowley 1945 b Kerry South Fianna Fáil 42 Kerry South 1945–66
Lynch, CeliaCelia Lynch 1954 Dublin South Central Fianna Fáil 46 Dublin South Central 1954–61,
Dublin North Central 1961–77
O'Carroll, MaureenMaureen O'Carroll 1954 Dublin North Central Labour Party 41 Dublin North Central 1954–57
O'Connor, KathleenKathleen O'Connor 1956 b Kerry North Clann na Poblachta 21 Kerry North 1956–57
Hogan-O'Higgins, BrigidBrigid Hogan-O'Higgins
(Hogan to 1958)		 1957 Galway South Fine Gael 25 Galway South 1957–61,
Galway East 1961–69,
Clare–Galway South 1969–77
Galvin, SheilaSheila Galvin 1964 b Cork Borough Fianna Fáil 49 Cork Borough 1964–65
Burke, JoanJoan Burke 1964 b Roscommon Fine Gael 35 Roscommon 1964–69,
Roscommon–Leitrim 1969–81
Desmond, EileenEileen Desmond 1965 b Cork Mid Labour Party 32 Cork Mid 1965–69,
Cork South Central 1973–87
Geoghegan-Quinn, MáireMáire Geoghegan-Quinn 1975 b Galway West Fianna Fáil 24 Galway West 1975–97
Ahern, KitKit Ahern 1977 Kerry North Fianna Fáil 50 Kerry North 1977–81
Valera, Síle deSíle de Valera 1977 Dublin County Mid Fianna Fáil 22 Dublin County Mid 1977–81,
Clare 1987–2007
Lemass, EileenEileen Lemass 1977 Dublin Ballyfermot Fianna Fáil 44 Dublin Ballyfermot 1977–81,
Dublin West 1981–82, 1982–87
Barry, MyraMyra Barry 1979 b Cork North East Fine Gael 22 Cork North East 1979–81,
Cork East 1981–87
Acheson, CarrieCarrie Acheson 1981 Tipperary South Fianna Fáil 46 Tipperary South 1981–Feb. 82
Fennell, NualaNuala Fennell 1981 Dublin South Fine Gael 45 Dublin South 1981–87, 1989–92
Flaherty, MaryMary Flaherty 1981 Dublin North West Fine Gael 28 Dublin North West 1981–97
Glenn, AliceAlice Glenn 1981 Dublin Central Fine Gael 58 Dublin Central 1981–82, 1982–87
Harney, MaryMary Harney 1981 Dublin South West Fianna Fáil
(Progressive Democrats 1985–2009)
(Independent 2009–11)		 28 Dublin South West 1981–2002,
Dublin Mid West 2002–11
Owen, NoraNora Owen 1981 Dublin North Fine Gael 36 Dublin North 1981–87, 1989–2002
Taylor-Quinn, MadeleineMadeleine Taylor-Quinn
(Taylor to 1982)		 1981 Clare Fine Gael 30 Clare 1981–82, 1982–92
Hussey, GemmaGemma Hussey 1982 (Feb) Wicklow Fine Gael 42 Wicklow Feb. 1982–89
Barnes, MonicaMonica Barnes 1982 (Nov) Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael 46 Dún Laoghaire Nov. 1982–92, 1997–2002
Doyle, AvrilAvril Doyle 1982 (Nov) Wexford Fine Gael 33 Wexford Nov. 1982–87, 1992–97
O'Rourke, MaryMary O'Rourke 1982 (Nov) Westmeath Fianna Fáil 45 Longford–Westmeath Nov. 1982–2002, 2007–11,
Westmeath 1992–2002
Colley, AnneAnne Colley 1987 Dublin South Progressive Democrats 35 Dublin South 1987–89
Kennedy, GeraldineGeraldine Kennedy 1987 Dún Laoghaire Progressive Democrats 35 Dún Laoghaire 1987–89
Mooney, MaryMary Mooney 1987 Dublin South Central Fianna Fáil 28 Dublin South Central 1987–89
Quill, MáirínMáirín Quill 1987 Cork North Central Progressive Democrats 46 Cork North Central 1987–97
Coughlan, MaryMary Coughlan 1987 Donegal South West Fianna Fáil 21 Donegal South West 1987–2011
Ahearn, TheresaTheresa Ahearn 1989 Tipperary South Fine Gael 38 Tipperary South 1989–2000
Wallace, MaryMary Wallace 1989 Meath Fianna Fáil 30 Meath 1989–2007,
Meath East 2007–11
Bhreathnach, NiamhNiamh Bhreathnach 1992 Dún Laoghaire Labour Party 47 Dún Laoghaire 1992–97
Burton, JoanJoan Burton 1992 Dublin West Labour Party 43 Dublin West 1992–97, 2002–
FitzGerald, EithneEithne FitzGerald 1992 Dublin South Labour Party 42 Dublin South 1992–97
Fitzgerald, FrancesFrances Fitzgerald 1992 Dublin South East Fine Gael 42 Dublin South East 1992–2002,
Dublin Mid West 2011–
Keogh, HelenHelen Keogh 1992 Dún Laoghaire Progressive Democrats 41 Dún Laoghaire 1992–97
McManus, LizLiz McManus 1992 Wicklow Democratic Left
(Labour Party from 1999)		 45 Wicklow 1992–2011
Moynihan-Cronin, BreedaBreeda Moynihan-Cronin 1992 Kerry South Labour Party 39 Kerry South 1992–2007
O'Donnell, LizLiz O'Donnell 1992 Dublin South Progressive Democrats 36 Dublin South 1992–2007
Shortall, RóisínRóisín Shortall 1992 Dublin North West Labour Party 38 Dublin North West 1992–
Lynch, KathleenKathleen Lynch 1994 b Cork North Central Democratic Left
(Labour Party from 1999)		 41 Cork North Central 1994–97, 2002–
Fox, MildredMildred Fox 1995 b Wicklow Independent 24 Wicklow 1995–2007
Keaveney, CeciliaCecilia Keaveney 1996 b Donegal North East Fianna Fáil 27 Donegal North East 1996–2007
Clune, DeirdreDeirdre Clune 1997 Cork South Central Fine Gael 38 Cork South Central 1997–2002, 2007–11
Flynn, BeverleyBeverley Flynn
(Cooper-Flynn until 2003)		 1997 Mayo Fianna Fáil
(Independent 2001–02, 2004–08)		 31 Mayo 1997–2011
Hanafin, MaryMary Hanafin 1997 Dún Laoghaire Fianna Fáil 38 Dún Laoghaire 1997–2011
McGennis, MarianMarian McGennis 1997 Dublin Central Fianna Fáil 43 Dublin Central 1997–2002
Mitchell, OliviaOlivia Mitchell 1997 Dublin South Fine Gael 49 Dublin South 1997–
O'Sullivan, JanJan O'Sullivan 1998 b Limerick East Labour Party 47 Limerick East 1998–
Upton, MaryMary Upton 1999 b Dublin South Central Labour Party 53 Dublin South Central 1999–2011
Enright, OlwynOlwyn Enright 2002 Laois–Offaly Fine Gael 27 Laois–Offaly 2002–11
Harkin, MarianMarian Harkin 2002 Sligo–Leitrim Independent 48 Sligo–Leitrim 2002–07
Hoctor, MáireMáire Hoctor 2002 Tipperary North Fianna Fáil 38 Tipperary North 2002–11
O'Malley, FionaFiona O'Malley 2002 Dún Laoghaire Progressive Democrats 34 Dún Laoghaire 2002–07
Sexton, MaeMae Sexton 2002 Longford–Roscommon Progressive Democrats 47 Longford–Roscommon 2002–07
Murphy, CatherineCatherine Murphy 2005 b Kildare North Independent 51 Kildare North 2005–07, 2011–
Brady, ÁineÁine Brady 2007 Kildare North Fianna Fáil 52 Kildare North 2007–11
Byrne, CatherineCatherine Byrne 2007 Dublin South Central Fine Gael 51 Dublin South Central 2007–
Creighton, LucindaLucinda Creighton 2007 Dublin South East Fine Gael 27 Dublin South East 2007–
Conlon, MargaretMargaret Conlon 2007 Cavan–Monaghan Fianna Fáil 39 Cavan–Monaghan 2007–11
Tuffy, JoannaJoanna Tuffy 2007 Dublin Mid West Labour Party 42 Dublin Mid West 2007–
White, MaryMary White 2007 Carlow–Kilkenny Green Party 58 Carlow–Kilkenny 2007–11
Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan 2009 b Dublin Central Independent 58 Dublin Central 2009–
Collins, ÁineÁine Collins 2011 Cork North West Fine Gael  ? Cork North West 2011–
Joan CollinsJoan Collins 2011 Dublin South Central People Before Profit Alliance 49 Dublin South Central 2011–
Ciara ConwayCiara Conway 2011 Waterford Labour Party  ? Waterford 2011–
Corcoran Kennedy, MarcellaMarcella Corcoran Kennedy 2011 Laois–Offaly Fine Gael 48 Laois–Offaly 2011–
Daly, ClareClare Daly 2011 Dublin North Socialist Party 42 Dublin North 2011–
Doherty, ReginaRegina Doherty 2011 Meath East Fine Gael 40 Meath East 2011–
Ferris, AnneAnne Ferris 2011 Wicklow Labour Party  ? Wicklow 2011–
Humphreys, HeatherHeather Humphreys 2011 Cavan–Monaghan Fine Gael  ? Cavan–Monaghan 2011–
McDonald, Mary LouMary Lou McDonald 2011 Dublin Central Sinn Féin 41 Dublin Central 2011–
McFadden, NickyNicky McFadden 2011 Longford–Westmeath Fine Gael 39 Longford–Westmeath 2011–
McLellan, SandraSandra McLellan 2011 Cork East Sinn Féin 49 Cork East 2011–
Mitchell O'Connor, MaryMary Mitchell O'Connor 2011 Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael 59 Dún Laoghaire 2011–
Mulherin, MichelleMichelle Mulherin 2011 Mayo Fine Gael 39 Mayo 2011–
Phelan, AnnAnn Phelan 2011 Carlow–Kilkenny Labour Party 49 Carlow–Kilkenny 2011–

Number of women elected in each Dáil

Dáil Election Number elected By-elections
1st 1918 1 0
2nd 1921 6 0
3rd 1922 2 0
4th 1923 5 0
5th 1927 (Jun) 4 0
6th 1927 (Sep) 1 0
7th 1932 2 0
8th 1933 3 0
9th 1937 2 0
10th 1938 3 0
11th 1943 3 0
12th 1944 4 0
13th 1948 5 0
14th 1951 5 0
15th 1954 5 1
16th 1957 4 0
17th 1961 3 3
18th 1965 5 0
19th 1969 3 0
20th 1973 4 1
21st 1977 6 1
22nd 1981 11 0
23rd 1982 (Feb) 8 0
24th 1982 (Nov) 14 0
25th 1987 14 0
26th 1989 13 0
27th 1992 20 3
28th 1997 20 2
29th 2002 22 1
30th 2007 22 1
31st 2011 25 0

See also

References

  1. ^ Constance Markievicz was actually elected to the British House of Commons but along with all other Sinn Féin members she refused to take her seat in the House of Commons and instead they formed the first Dáil Éireann.
  2. ^ "The 31st Dáil: A historic parliament". RTÉ News. 9 March 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/historicdail.html. Retrieved 9 March 2011.