List of female members of Seanad Éireann
This is a list of women Senators who have been elected or appointed to Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas, the bicameral parliament of Ireland.
Women in Seanad Éireann
Denotes incumbent member of Seanad Éireann
Name | Year first elected | Panel/Constituency first elected | Party as first elected | Age when first elected | Years in Seanad | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eileen Costello | 1922 | Elected by Dáil Éireann | Independent | 52 | 1922–1934 | |
Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart | 1922 | Nominated by the President | Independent | 65 | 1922–1933 | |
Alice Stopford Green | 1922 | Elected by Dáil Éireann | Independent | 75 | 1922–1929 | |
Jennie Wyse Power | 1922 | Nominated by the President | Independent | 64 | 1922–1936 | |
Kathleen Browne | 1929 | Elected at a by-election | Cumann na nGaedheal | 50 | 1929–1936 | |
Helena Concannon | 1938 | National University | Fianna Fáil | 60 | 1938–1952 | |
Margaret L. Kennedy | 1938 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 46 | 1938–1948 | |
Linda Kearns MacWhinney | 1938 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 49 | 1938 | |
Margaret Mary Pearse | 1938 | Administrative Panel | Fianna Fáil | 60 | 1938–1968 | |
Eleanor Butler | 1948 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Labour | 33 | 1948–1951 | |
Mary Davidson | 1950 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Labour | 46 |
| |
Jane Dowdall | 1951 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 51 | 1951–1961 | |
Nora Connolly O'Brien | 1957 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 64 | 1957–1969 | |
Kit Ahern | 1964 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 42 | 1964–1977 | |
Eileen Desmond | 1969 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Labour | 36 | 1969–1973 | |
Evelyn Owens | 1969 | Labour Panel | Labour | 38 | 1969–1977 | |
Mary Robinson (Bourke to 1970) | 1969 | Dublin University | Independent | 25 | 1969–1989 | |
Peggy Farrell | 1969 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 48 | 1969–1973 | |
Mary Walsh | 1973 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fine Gael | 43 | 1973–1976 | |
Eileen Cassidy | 1977 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 45 | 1977–1981 | |
Valerie Goulding | 1977 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 59 | 1977–1981 | |
Mary Harney | 1977 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 24 | 1977–1981 | |
Tras Honan | 1977 | Administrative Panel | Fianna Fáil | 47 | 1977–1993 | |
Gemma Hussey | 1977 | National University | Independent | 38 | 1977–1982 | |
Catherine McGuinness | 1979 | National University | Independent | 45 |
| |
Deirdre Bolger | 1981 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fine Gael | 43 | 1981–1982 | |
Katharine Bulbulia | 1981 | Administrative Panel | Fine Gael | 38 | 1981–1989 | |
Miriam Kearney | 1981 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 22 | 1981–1982 | |
Patsy Lawlor | 1981 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fine Gael | 48 | 1981–1982 | |
Mary O'Rourke | 1981 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 44 |
| |
Camilla Hannon | 1982 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 45 | 1982 | |
Monica Barnes | 1982 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 46 | 1982 | |
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn | 1982 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fine Gael | 30 |
| |
Helena McAuliffe-Ennis | 1983 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Labour | 32 | 1983–1987 | |
Nuala Fennell | 1983 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 47 | 1983–1989 | |
Bríd Rodgers | 1983 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 48 | 1983–1987 | |
Mary Wallace | 1987 | Administrative Panel | Fianna Fáil | 29 | 1987–1989 | |
Olga Bennett | 1989 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 42 | 1989–1993 | |
Avril Doyle | 1989 | Agricultural Panel | Fine Gael | 40 |
| |
Carmencita Hederman | 1989 | Dublin University | Independent | 49 | 1989–1993 | |
Mary Jackman | 1989 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 46 |
| |
Helen Keogh | 1989 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Progressive Democrats | 38 |
| |
Ann Gallagher | 1993 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Labour | 25 | 1993–1997 | |
Mary Henry | 1993 | Dublin University | Independent | 52 | 1993–2007 | |
Cathy Honan | 1993 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Progressive Democrats | 41 | 1993–1997 | |
Mary Kelly | 1993 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Labour | 40 | 1993–1997 | |
Marian McGennis | 1993 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 39 | 1993–1997 | |
Jan O'Sullivan | 1993 | Administrative Panel | Labour | 42 | 1993–1997 | |
Ann Ormonde | 1993 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fianna Fáil | 58 | 1993–2011 | |
Niamh Bhreathnach | 1997 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Labour | 53 | 1997 | |
Niamh Cosgrave | 1997 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 32 | 1997 | |
Margaret Cox | 1997 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 33 | 1997–2007 | |
Ann Leonard | 1997 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 28 | 1997–2002 | |
Kathleen O'Meara | 1997 | Agricultural Panel | Labour | 37 | 1997–2007 | |
Máirín Quill | 1997 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Progressive Democrats | 61 | 1997–2002 | |
Therese Ridge | 1997 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 56 | 1997–2002 | |
Joanna Tuffy | 2002 | Administrative Panel | Labour | 37 | 2002–2007 | |
Sheila Terry | 2002 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fine Gael | 52 | 2002–2007 | |
Mary White | 2002 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 57 | 2002–2016 | |
Geraldine Feeney | 2002 | Labour Panel | Fianna Fáil | 45 | 2002–2011 | |
Kate Walsh | 2002 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Progressive Democrats | 55 | 2002–2007 | |
Ivana Bacik | 2007 | Dublin University | Independent (Labour Party from 2009) | 39 | 2007–2021 | |
Maria Corrigan | 2007 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 2007–2011 | ||
Déirdre de Búrca | 2007 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Green | 43 | 2007–2010 | |
Frances Fitzgerald | 2007 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 56 | 2007–2011 | |
Fidelma Healy Eames | 2007 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 45 | 2007–2016 | |
Cecilia Keaveney | 2007 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fianna Fáil | 38 | 2007–2011 | |
Lisa McDonald | 2007 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 33 | 2007–2011 | |
Nicky McFadden | 2007 | Administrative Panel | Fine Gael | 44 | 2007–2011 | |
Fiona O'Malley | 2007 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Progressive Democrats | 39 | 2007–2011 | |
Phil Prendergast | 2007 | Labour Panel | Labour | 47 | 2007–2011 | |
Deirdre Clune | 2011 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fine Gael | 51 | 2011–2014 | |
Aideen Hayden | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Labour | 52 | 2011–2016 | |
Imelda Henry | 2011 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fine Gael | 44 | 2011–2016 | |
Lorraine Higgins | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Labour | 31 | 2011–2016 | |
Cáit Keane | 2011 | Labour Panel | Fine Gael | 61 | 2011–2016 | |
Marie Moloney | 2011 | Labour Panel | Labour | 52 | 2011–2016 | |
Mary Moran | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Labour | 50 | 2011–2016 | |
Catherine Noone | 2011 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fine Gael | 34 | 2011–2020 | |
Mary Ann O'Brien | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 50 | 2011–2016 | |
Marie-Louise O'Donnell | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 58 | 2011–2020 | |
Susan O'Keeffe | 2011 | Agricultural Panel | Labour | 50 | 2011–2016 | |
Averil Power | 2011 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 32 | 2011–2016 | |
Kathryn Reilly | 2011 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Sinn Féin | 22 | 2011–2016 | |
Jillian van Turnhout | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 43 | 2011–2016 | |
Katherine Zappone | 2011 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 57 | 2011–2016 | |
Hildegarde Naughton | 2013 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 36 | 2013–2016 | |
Máiría Cahill | 2015 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Labour | 34 | 2015–2016 | |
Catherine Ardagh | 2016 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Fianna Fáil | 34 | 2016– | |
Frances Black | 2016 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Independent | 55 | 2016– | |
Maria Byrne | 2016 | Agricultural Panel | Fine Gael | 48 |
| |
Lorraine Clifford-Lee | 2016 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fianna Fáil | 34 | 2016– | |
Rose Conway-Walsh | 2016 | Agricultural Panel | Sinn Féin | 45 | 2016–2020 | |
Máire Devine | 2016 | Labour Panel | Sinn Féin | 43 | 2016–2020 | |
Joan Freeman | 2016 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 58 | 2016–2020 | |
Alice-Mary Higgins | 2016 | National University | Independent | 40 | 2016– | |
Maura Hopkins | 2016 | Administrative Panel | Fine Gael | 31 | 2016–2020 | |
Colette Kelleher | 2016 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 55 | 2016–2020 | |
Gabrielle McFadden | 2016 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fine Gael | 49 | 2016–2020 | |
Michelle Mulherin | 2016 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 44 | 2016–2020 | |
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor | 2016 | Labour Panel | Fianna Fáil | 49 | 2016–2020 | |
Grace O'Sullivan | 2016 | Agricultural Panel | Green | 54 | 2016–2019 | |
Lynn Ruane | 2016 | Dublin University | Independent | 31 | 2016– | |
Pippa Hackett | 2019 | Agricultural Panel | Green | 2019– | ||
Lynn Boylan | 2020 | Agricultural Panel | Sinn Féin | 33 | 2020–2024 | |
Lisa Chambers | 2020 | Cultural and Educational Panel | Fianna Fáil | 33 | 2020– | |
Annie Hoey | 2020 | Agricultural Panel | Labour | 31 | 2020– | |
Sharon Keogan | 2020 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Independent | 53 | 2020– | |
Elisha McCallion | 2020 | Industrial and Commercial Panel | Sinn Féin | 37 | 2020 | |
Rebecca Moynihan | 2020 | Administrative Panel | Labour | 38 | 2020– | |
Fiona O'Loughlin | 2020 | Administrative Panel | Fianna Fáil | 54 | 2020– | |
Pauline O'Reilly | 2020 | Labour Panel | Green | 46 | 2020– | |
Marie Sherlock | 2020 | Labour Panel | Labour | 2020– | ||
Emer Currie | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 42 | 2020– | |
Regina Doherty | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 49 | 2020–2024 | |
Aisling Dolan | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 45 | 2020– | |
Mary Fitzpatrick | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 51 | 2020– | |
Eileen Flynn | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Independent | 30 | 2020– | |
Róisín Garvey | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Green | 46 | 2020– | |
Mary Seery Kearney | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 2020– | ||
Erin McGreehan | 2020 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | 37 | 2020– | |
Nikki Bradley | 2024 | Nominated by the Taoiseach | Fine Gael | 38 | 2024– |
Timeline
Number of women in each Seanad
Seanad | Election | Number | By-elections |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 1922 | 4 / 60 (6.6%) | 1 |
2nd | 1937 | 4 / 60 (6.6%) | 0 |
3rd | 1938 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 0 |
4th | 1943 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 0 |
5th | 1944 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 0 |
6th | 1948 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 1 |
7th | 1951 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 0 |
8th | 1954 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 0 |
9th | 1957 | 4 / 60 (6.6%) | 0 |
10th | 1961 | 3 / 60 (5.0%) | 1 |
11th | 1965 | 4 / 60 (6.6%) | 0 |
12th | 1969 | 5 / 60 (8.3%) | 0 |
13th | 1973 | 4 / 60 (6.6%) | 0 |
14th | 1977 | 6 / 60 (10.0%) | 1 |
15th | 1981 | 9 / 60 (15.0%) | 0 |
16th | 1982 (Feb) | 8 / 60 (13.3%) | 0 |
17th | 1982 (Nov) | 6 / 60 (10.0%) | 1 |
18th | 1987 | 5 / 60 (8.3%) | 0 |
19th | 1989 | 6 / 60 (10.0%) | 0 |
20th | 1992 | 8 / 60 (13.3%) | 2 |
21st | 1997 | 11 / 60 (18.3%) | 1 |
22nd | 2002 | 10 / 60 (16.6%) | 0 |
23rd | 2007 | 13 / 60 (21.6%) | 0 |
24th | 2011 | 18 / 60 (30.0%) | 2 |
25th | 2016 | 18 / 60 (30.0%) | 1 |
26th | 2020 | 24 / 60 (40.0%) | 1 |
See also
- Families in the Oireachtas
- List of female members of Dáil Éireann
- Records of members of the Oireachtas
Sources
- McNamara, Maedhbh; Mooney, Paschal (2000). Women in Parliament: Ireland 1918–2000. Dublin: Wolfhound Press. ISBN 0-86327-759-4.
- "Members Database – Seanad". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- "ElectionsIreland.org".
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