Heather Humphreys

Heather Humphreys
TD
Minister for Arts and Culture
Assumed office
14 June 2017
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Preceded by New office
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
In office
6 May 2016 – 14 June 2017
Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Preceded by New Office
Succeeded by Office abolished
Minister for Arts, Heritage and
the Gaeltacht
In office
11 July 2014 – 6 May 2016
Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Preceded by Jimmy Deenihan
Succeeded by Office abolished
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2011
Constituency Cavan–Monaghan
Personal details
Nationality Irish
Political party Fine Gael
Spouse(s) Eric Humphreys (m. 1996)
Children 2
Alma mater NUI Galway
Website Official website

Heather Humphreys is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Arts and Culture since June 2017. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2011, currently for the Cavan-Monaghan constituency. She previously served as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2016 to 2017 and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from 2014 to 2016.[1]

Humphreys was born in Drum, County Monaghan, and was educated at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. For a number of years she worked as an official with Ulster Bank and the Credit Union. In 2003 Humphreys was co-opted onto Monaghan County Council and served in a number of capacities, including as county mayor, before her election to Dáil Éireann.

After an initial period on the backbenches, Humphreys was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Humphreys was appointed to the newly created position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.[2]

Early life

Humphreys was born in the village of Drum, County Monaghan. Raised as a Presbyterian, her father is a member of the Orange Order, while her grandfather, Robert James Stewart, signed the Ulster Covenant opposing Home Rule in 1912.[3][4] Humphreys was educated at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill and later worked in various branches of Ulster Bank. She was later appointed manager of Cootehill Credit Union.

Early political career

Following the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003, Humphreys was co-opted onto Monaghan County Council in succession to Seymour Crawford. She was elected in her own right in 2004 and once again in 2009.[5] She was elected as Mayor of Monaghan County Council in 2009.[6] She was previously Chair of the Council's Strategic Policy Committee on Planning and Economic Development.

Humphreys was elected as a TD for Cavan-Monaghan at the 2011 general election. She is the only Presbyterian member of the Oireachtas.[7]

In government

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Humphreys was a surprise appointment to the position of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.[8] After just a few months in the position she became embroiled in controversy over her appointment of John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). McNulty was a Fine Gael candidate for a Seanad by-election and his appointment occurred a few days before his nomination was announced. Humphreys was accused of stroke politics and cronyism.

On her role as minister in charge of the 2016 Easter Rising centenary celebrations, she said: "Given my background as a Protestant and an Ulsterwoman who is a proud Irish republican, I appreciate the need to respect the differing traditions on this island."[9]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Humphreys was appointed to the newly expanded position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government on 6 May 2016.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Ms. Heather Humphreys". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "Frances Fitzgerald is Tánaiste in new Cabinet". RTÉ News. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Moriarty, Gerry (8 August 2016). "Protestant drum is still beating strong in Border village". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. ↑ McGreevy, Ronan (21 January 2016). "My grandfather signed the Ulster Covenant, Minister says". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Heather Humphreys". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Heather Humphreys". Election 2011. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Profile: Heather Humphreys". Irish Independent. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "As It Happened: Cabinet reshuffle". RTÉ News. 14 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Heather Humphreys: 1916 commemorations belong to all". The Irish Times. 31 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "The new cabinet". Irish Independent. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Margaret Conlon
(Fianna Fáil)		 Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Cavan–Monaghan
2011–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jimmy Deenihan		 Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
2014–16 		Succeeded by
Office abolished
New office Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
2016–2017 		Succeeded by
Herself
as Minister for Arts and Culture
Preceded by
Herself
as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs		 Minister for Arts and Culture
2017–present 		Incumbent

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