List of female members of Dáil Éireann

Constance Markievicz, the first woman elected to 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.

History

As of November 2024, a total of 151 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 one in the 6th 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] 35 women (22%) were elected to the 32nd Dáil in 2016.[3]

Women in Dáil Éireann

  Denotes incumbent member of Dáil Éireann
Name Year[a][b] Constituencies represented Party represented Age[c] Family
1 Constance Markievicz 1918 Dublin St Patrick's 1918–1921,
Dublin South 1921–1922, 1923–1927[d] 		Sinn Féin
(Fianna Fáil from 1926) 		50
2 Kathleen Clarke 1921 Dublin Mid 1921–1922, June–Sept 1927 Sinn Féin
(Fianna Fáil from 1926) 		43 widow of Tom Clarke
Ada English 1921 NUI 1921–1922 Sinn Féin 46
Mary MacSwiney 1921 Cork Borough 1921–1927 (June) Sinn Féin 49 sister of Terence MacSwiney
Kathleen O'Callaghan 1921 Limerick City–Limerick East 1921–1923 Sinn Féin 33 widow of Michael O'Callaghan
Margaret Pearse 1921 Dublin County 1921–1922 Sinn Féin 64 mother of Patrick Pearse
7 Caitlín Brugha 1923 Waterford County 1923–1927 (Sept) Sinn Féin 43 widow of Cathal Brugha
Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll 1923 Dublin North 1923–1933 Cumann na nGaedheal 45 sister of Michael Collins
Kathleen Lynn 1923 Dublin County 1923–1927 (June) Sinn Féin 49
10 Mary Reynolds 1932 Sligo–Leitrim 1932–1933, 1937–1961 Cumann na nGaedheal
(Fine Gael from 1933) 		42 widow of Patrick Reynolds
11 Helena Concannon 1933 NUI 1933–1937 Fianna Fáil 54
Margaret Mary Pearse 1933 Dublin County 1933–1937 Fianna Fáil 55 sister of Patrick Pearse
Bridget Redmond 1933 Waterford 1933–1952 Cumann na nGaedheal
(Fine Gael from 1933) 		28 widow of William Redmond
14 Bridget Rice 1938 Monaghan 1938–1954 Fianna Fáil 53 widow of Eamon Rice
15 Mary Ryan 1944 Tipperary 1944–1948,
Tipperary North 1948–1961 		Fianna Fáil 46 widow of Martin Ryan
16 Honor Crowley 1945 b. Kerry South 1945–1966 Fianna Fáil 42 widow of Frederick Crowley
17 Celia Lynch 1954 Dublin South-Central 1954–1961,
Dublin North-Central 1961–1977 		Fianna Fáil 46 widow of James B. Lynch
Maureen O'Carroll 1954 Dublin North-Central 1954–1957 Labour 41
19 Kathleen O'Connor 1956 b. Kerry North 1956–1957 Clann na Poblachta 21 daughter of Johnny Connor
20 Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins
(Hogan to 1958) 		1957 Galway South 1957–1961,
Galway East 1961–1969,
Clare–South Galway 1969–1977 		Fine Gael 25 daughter of Patrick Hogan, married Michael O'Higgins
21 Sheila Galvin 1964 b. Cork Borough 1964–1965 Fianna Fáil 49 widow of John Galvin
22 Joan Burke 1964 b. Roscommon 1964–1969,
Roscommon–Leitrim 1969–1981 		Fine Gael 35 widow of James Burke
23 Eileen Desmond 1965 b. Cork Mid 1965–1969,
Cork South-Central 1973–1987 		Labour 32 widow of Dan Desmond
24 Máire Geoghegan-Quinn 1975 b. Galway West 1975–1997 Fianna Fáil 24 daughter of Johnny Geoghegan
25 Kit Ahern 1977 Kerry North 1977–1981 Fianna Fáil 50
Síle de Valera 1977 Dublin County Mid 1977–1981,
Clare 1987–2007 		Fianna Fáil 22 granddaughter of Éamon de Valera
Eileen Lemass 1977 Dublin Ballyfermot 1977–1981,
Dublin West 1981–1982, 1982–1987 		Fianna Fáil 44 widow of Noel Lemass
28 Myra Barry 1979 b. Cork North-East 1979–1981,
Cork East 1981–1987 		Fine Gael 22 daughter of Richard Barry
29 Carrie Acheson 1981 Tipperary South 1981–Feb. 1982 Fianna Fáil 46 sister of Tras Honan
Nuala Fennell 1981 Dublin South 1981–1987, 1989–1992 Fine Gael 45
Mary Flaherty 1981 Dublin North-West 1981–1997 Fine Gael 28 wife of Alexis FitzGerald Jnr
Alice Glenn 1981 Dublin Central 1981–1982, 1982–1987 Fine Gael 58
Mary Harney 1981 Dublin South-West 1981–2002,
Dublin Mid-West 2002–2011 		Fianna Fáil
(Progressive Democrats 1985–2009)
(Independent 2009–2011) 		28
Nora Owen 1981 Dublin North 1981–1987, 1989–2002 Fine Gael 36 grandniece of Michael Collins
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
(Taylor to 1982) 		1981 Clare 1981–1982, 1982–1992 Fine Gael 30 daughter of Frank Taylor
36 Gemma Hussey 1982 (Feb) Wicklow Feb. 1982–1989 Fine Gael 42
Monica Barnes 1982 (Nov) Dún Laoghaire Nov. 1982–1992, 1997–2002 Fine Gael 46
Avril Doyle 1982 (Nov) Wexford Nov. 1982–1987, 1992–1997 Fine Gael 33 daughter of Richard Belton
Mary O'Rourke 1982 (Nov) Longford–Westmeath Nov. 1982–2002, 2007–2011,
Westmeath 1992–2002 		Fianna Fáil 45 sister of Brian Lenihan Snr
40 Anne Colley 1987 Dublin South 1987–1989 Progressive Democrats 35 daughter of George Colley
Geraldine Kennedy 1987 Dún Laoghaire 1987–1989 Progressive Democrats 35
Mary Mooney 1987 Dublin South-Central 1987–1989 Fianna Fáil 28
Máirín Quill 1987 Cork North-Central 1987–1997 Progressive Democrats 46
Mary Coughlan 1987 Donegal South-West 1987–2011 Fianna Fáil 21 daughter of Cathal Coughlan
45 Theresa Ahearn 1989 Tipperary South 1989–2000 Fine Gael 38
Mary Wallace 1989 Meath 1989–2007,
Meath East 2007–2011 		Fianna Fáil 30
47 Niamh Bhreathnach 1992 Dún Laoghaire 1992–1997 Labour 47
Joan Burton 1992 Dublin West 1992–1997, 2002–2020 Labour 43
Eithne FitzGerald 1992 Dublin South 1992–1997 Labour 42 daughter-in-law of Garret FitzGerald
Frances Fitzgerald 1992 Dublin South-East 1992–2002,
Dublin Mid-West 2011–2019 		Fine Gael 42
Helen Keogh 1992 Dún Laoghaire 1992–1997 Progressive Democrats 41
Liz McManus 1992 Wicklow 1992–2011 Democratic Left
(Labour Party from 1999) 		45
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin 1992 Kerry South 1992–2007 Labour 39 daughter of Michael Moynihan
Liz O'Donnell 1992 Dublin South 1992–2007 Progressive Democrats 36
Róisín Shortall 1992 Dublin North-West 1992–2024 Labour
(Independent 2012–2015)
(Social Democrats from 2015) 		38
56 Kathleen Lynch 1994 b. Cork North-Central 1994–1997, 2002–2016 Democratic Left
(Labour Party from 1999) 		41
57 Mildred Fox 1995 b. Wicklow 1995–2007 Independent 24 daughter of Johnny Fox
58 Cecilia Keaveney 1996 b. Donegal North-East 1996–2007 Fianna Fáil 27 daughter of Paddy Keaveney
59 Deirdre Clune 1997 Cork South-Central 1997–2002, 2007–2011 Fine Gael 38 daughter of Peter Barry
Beverley Flynn
(Cooper-Flynn until 2003) 		1997 Mayo 1997–2011 Fianna Fáil
(Independent 2001–2002, 2004–2008) 		31 daughter of Pádraig Flynn
Mary Hanafin 1997 Dún Laoghaire 1997–2011 Fianna Fáil 38 daughter of Des Hanafin
Marian McGennis 1997 Dublin Central 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil 43
Olivia Mitchell 1997 Dublin South 1997–2016 Fine Gael 49
64 Jan O'Sullivan 1998 b. Limerick East 1998–2011,
Limerick City 2011–2020 		Labour 47
65 Mary Upton 1999 b. Dublin South-Central 1999–2011 Labour 53 sister of Pat Upton
66 Olwyn Enright 2002 Laois–Offaly 2002–2011 Fine Gael 27 daughter of Tom Enright
Marian Harkin 2002 Sligo–Leitrim 2002–2007, 2020– Independent 48
Máire Hoctor 2002 Tipperary North 2002–2011 Fianna Fáil 38
Fiona O'Malley 2002 Dún Laoghaire 2002–2007 Progressive Democrats 34 daughter of Desmond O'Malley
Mae Sexton 2002 Longford–Roscommon 2002–2007 Progressive Democrats 47
71 Catherine Murphy 2005 b. Kildare North 2005–2007, 2011–2024 Independent
(Social Democrats from 2015) 		51
72 Áine Brady 2007 Kildare North 2007–2011 Fianna Fáil 52 daughter of Michael F. Kitt
Catherine Byrne 2007 Dublin South-Central 2007–2020 Fine Gael 51
Margaret Conlon 2007 Cavan–Monaghan 2007–2011 Fianna Fáil 39
Lucinda Creighton 2007 Dublin South-East 2007–2016 Fine Gael
(Independent 2013–2015)
(Renua 2015–2016) 		27
Joanna Tuffy 2007 Dublin Mid-West 2007–2016 Labour 42
Mary White 2007 Carlow–Kilkenny 2007–2011 Green 58
78 Maureen O'Sullivan 2009 b. Dublin Central 2009–2020 Independent 58
79 Áine Collins 2011 Cork North-West 2011–2016 Fine Gael 41
Joan Collins 2011 Dublin South-Central 2011–2024 People Before Profit
(Independents 4 Change 2016–2020)
(Right to Change from 2020) 		49
Ciara Conway 2011 Waterford 2011–2016 Labour 30
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy 2011 Laois–Offaly 2011–2016,
Offaly 2016–2020 		Fine Gael 48
Clare Daly 2011 Dublin North 2011–2016,
Dublin Fingal 2016–2019 		Socialist Party
(Independent 2012–2016)
(Independents 4 Change 2016–2019) 		42
Regina Doherty 2011 Meath East 2011–2020 Fine Gael 40
Anne Ferris 2011 Wicklow 2011–2016 Labour 56
Heather Humphreys 2011 Cavan–Monaghan 2011–2024 Fine Gael 47
Mary Lou McDonald 2011 Dublin Central 2011– Sinn Féin 41
Nicky McFadden 2011 Longford–Westmeath 2011–2014 Fine Gael 39
Sandra McLellan 2011 Cork East 2011–2016 Sinn Féin 49
Mary Mitchell O'Connor 2011 Dún Laoghaire 2011–2020 Fine Gael 51
Michelle Mulherin 2011 Mayo 2011–2016 Fine Gael 39
Ann Phelan 2011 Carlow–Kilkenny 2011–2016 Labour 49
93 Helen McEntee 2013 b. Meath East 2013– Fine Gael 26 daughter of Shane McEntee
94 Ruth Coppinger 2014 b. Dublin West 2014–2020, 2024– Socialist Party
(PBP–Solidarity from 2024) 		47
Gabrielle McFadden 2014 b. Longford–Westmeath 2014–2016 Fine Gael 47 sister of Nicky McFadden
96 Maria Bailey 2016 Dún Laoghaire 2016–2020 Fine Gael 39
Mary Butler 2016 Waterford 2016– Fianna Fáil 53
Lisa Chambers 2016 Mayo 2016–2020 Fianna Fáil 29 niece of Frank Chambers
Catherine Connolly 2016 Galway West 2016– Independent 58
Kathleen Funchion 2016 Carlow–Kilkenny 2016–2024 Sinn Féin 34
Josepha Madigan 2016 Dublin Rathdown 2016–2024 Fine Gael 45
Catherine Martin 2016 Dublin Rathdown 2016–2024 Green 43
Denise Mitchell 2016 Dublin Bay North 2016– Sinn Féin 39
Imelda Munster 2016 Louth 2016–2024 Sinn Féin 48
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony 2016 Cork South-West 2016–2020 Fianna Fáil 46
Hildegarde Naughton 2016 Galway West 2016– Fine Gael 38
Carol Nolan 2016 Offaly 2016–2020,
Laois–Offaly 2020– 		Sinn Féin
(Independent from 2018) 		37
Kate O'Connell 2016 Dublin Bay South 2016–2020 Fine Gael 36
Fiona O'Loughlin 2016 Kildare South 2016–2020 Fianna Fáil 50
Louise O'Reilly 2016 Dublin Fingal 2016– Sinn Féin 36
Anne Rabbitte 2016 Galway East 2016–2024 Fianna Fáil 45
Bríd Smith 2016 Dublin South-Central 2016–2024 AAA–PBP
(PBP–Solidarity from 2017) 		54
Niamh Smyth 2016 Cavan–Monaghan 2016– Fianna Fáil 37 grandniece of Patrick Smith
Katherine Zappone 2016 Dublin South-West 2016–2020 Independent 62
115 Holly Cairns 2020 Cork South–West 2020– Social Democrats 30
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill 2020 Dún Laoghaire 2020– Fine Gael 39
Sorca Clarke 2020 Longford–Westmeath 2020– Sinn Féin 42
Rose Conway-Walsh 2020 Mayo 2020– Sinn Féin 50
Réada Cronin 2020 Kildare North 2020– Sinn Féin 55
Mairéad Farrell 2020 Galway West 2020– Sinn Féin 30
Norma Foley 2020 Kerry 2020– Fianna Fáil 49–50 daughter of Denis Foley
Emer Higgins 2020 Dublin Mid-West 2020– Fine Gael 34–35
Neasa Hourigan 2020 Dublin Central 2020–2024 Green 39
Claire Kerrane 2020 Roscommon–Galway 2020– Sinn Féin 27
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor 2020 Carlow–Kilkenny 2020– Fianna Fáil 53
Verona Murphy 2020 Wexford 2020– Independent 48–49
Patricia Ryan 2020 Kildare South 2020–2024 Sinn Féin 50
Pauline Tully 2020 Cavan–Monaghan 2020–2024 Sinn Féin 48
Jennifer Whitmore 2020 Wicklow 2020– Social Democrats 46
Violet-Anne Wynne 2020 Clare 2020–2024 Sinn Féin 32
131 Ivana Bacik 2021 b. Dublin Bay South 2021– Labour 53
132 Catherine Ardagh 2024 Dublin South-Central 2024– Fianna Fáil 42 daughter of Seán Ardagh
Cathy Bennett 2024 Cavan–Monaghan 2024– Sinn Féin 50
Grace Boland 2024 Dublin Fingal West 2024– Fine Gael 47 daughter of John Boland
Paula Butterly 2024 Louth 2024– Fine Gael
Joanna Byrne 2024 Louth 2024– Sinn Féin
Catherine Callaghan 2024 Carlow–Kilkenny 2024– Fine Gael 49
Jen Cummins 2024 Dublin South-Central 2024– Social Democrats 49
Emer Currie 2024 Dublin West 2024– Fine Gael 45 daughter of Austin Currie
Aisling Dempsey 2024 Meath West 2024– Fianna Fáil daughter of Noel Dempsey
Máire Devine 2024 Dublin South-Central 2024– Sinn Féin 52
Sinéad Gibney 2024 Dublin Rathdown 2024– Social Democrats 47
Ann Graves 2024 Dublin Fingal East 2024– Sinn Féin
Keira Keogh 2024 Mayo 2024– Fine Gael
Donna McGettigan 2024 Clare 2024– Sinn Féin 52
Erin McGreehan 2024 Louth 2024– Fianna Fáil 42
Natasha Newsome Drennan 2024 Carlow–Kilkenny 2024– Sinn Féin 48
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh 2024 Kildare South 2024– Sinn Féin 41
Maeve O'Connell 2024 Dublin Rathdown 2024– Fine Gael
Marie Sherlock 2024 Dublin Central 2024– Labour
Gillian Toole 2024 Meath East 2024– Independent

Timeline

1918 to 2020

Katherine ZapponeNiamh SmythBríd SmithAnne RabbitteLouise O'ReillyFiona O'Loughlin (politician)Kate O'ConnellCarol NolanHildegarde NaughtonMargaret Murphy O'MahonyImelda MunsterDenise MitchellCatherine Martin (politician)Josepha MadiganKathleen FunchionCatherine ConnollyLisa ChambersMary Butler (politician)Maria BaileyGabrielle McFaddenRuth CoppingerHelen McEnteeAnn PhelanMichelle MulherinMary Mitchell O'ConnorSandra McLellanNicky McFaddenMary Lou McDonaldHeather HumphreysAnne FerrisRegina DohertyClare DalyMarcella Corcoran KennedyCiara ConwayJoan Collins (politician)Áine CollinsCatherine Murphy (politician)Maureen O'SullivanMary White (Green Party politician)Joanna TuffyLucinda CreightonMargaret ConlonCatherine Byrne (Irish politician)Áine BradyDeirdre CluneMary O'RourkeCatherine Murphy (politician)Mae SextonFiona O'MalleyMáire HoctorMarian HarkinOlwyn EnrightFrances Fitzgerald (politician)Joan BurtonMary UptonJan O'SullivanOlivia MitchellMarian McGennisMary HanafinBeverley FlynnDeirdre CluneMonica BarnesCecilia KeaveneyMildred FoxKathleen Lynch (politician)Avril DoyleRóisín ShortallLiz O'DonnellBreeda Moynihan-CroninLiz McManusHelen KeoghFrances Fitzgerald (politician)Joan BurtonEithne FitzGeraldNiamh BhreathnachMary WallaceTheresa AhearnNuala FennellNora OwenMary Coughlan (politician)Máirín QuillMary MooneyGeraldine KennedyAnne ColleyMary O'RourkeMadeleine Taylor-QuinnAvril DoyleMonica BarnesAlice GlennGemma HusseyMadeleine Taylor-QuinnNora OwenMary HarneyAlice GlennMary FlahertyNuala FennellCarrie AchesonMyra BarryEileen LemassSíle de ValeraKit AhernMáire Geoghegan-QuinnEileen DesmondEileen DesmondJoan BurkeSheila GalvinBrigid Hogan-O'HigginsKathleen O'Connor (politician)Maureen O'CarrollCelia LynchHonor CrowleyMary Ryan (Irish politician)Bridget RiceMary Reynolds (politician)Bridget RedmondMary Reynolds (politician)Kathleen ClarkeMargaret Collins-O'DriscollKathleen LynnCaitlín BrughaKathleen O'CallaghanMary MacSwineyMargaret PearseAda EnglishKathleen ClarkeConstance Markievicz

From 2020

Gillian TooleMarie SherlockMaeve O'ConnellShónagh Ní RaghallaighNatasha Newsome DrennanAnn GravesDonna McGettiganKeira KeoghAnn GravesSinéad GibneyMáire DevineAisling DempseyEmer CurrieJen CumminsRuth CoppingerCatherine Callaghan (politician)Joanna ByrnePaula ButterlyGrace BolandCathy BennettCatherine ArdaghIvana BacikViolet-Anne WynneJennifer WhitmorePatricia Ryan (politician)Verona MurphyJennifer Murnane O'ConnorClaire KerraneNeasa HouriganEmer HigginsNorma FoleyMairéad FarrellRéada CroninRose Conway-WalshSorca ClarkeJennifer Carroll MacNeillHolly CairnsMarian Harkin

Number of women elected in each Dáil

Dáil Election Number elected By-elections
1st 1918 1 / 105 (0.9%) 0
2nd 1921 6 / 128 (4.7%) 0
3rd 1922 2 / 128 (1.5%) 0
4th 1923 5 / 153 (3.3%) 0
5th 1927 (Jun) 4 / 153 (2.6%) 0
6th 1927 (Sep) 1 / 153 (0.6%) 0
7th 1932 2 / 153 (1.3%) 0
8th 1933 3 / 153 (1.9%) 0
9th 1937 2 / 138 (1.4%) 0
10th 1938 3 / 138 (2.2%) 0
11th 1943 3 / 138 (2.2%) 0
12th 1944 4 / 138 (2.9%) 0
13th 1948 5 / 147 (3.4%) 0
14th 1951 5 / 147 (3.4%) 0
15th 1954 5 / 147 (3.4%) 1
16th 1957 4 / 147 (2.7%) 0
17th 1961 3 / 144 (2.1%) 3
18th 1965 5 / 144 (3.5%) 0
19th 1969 3 / 144 (2.1%) 0
20th 1973 4 / 144 (2.7%) 1
21st 1977 6 / 148 (4.0%) 1
22nd 1981 11 / 166 (6.6%) 0
23rd 1982 (Feb) 8 / 166 (4.8%) 0
24th 1982 (Nov) 14 / 166 (8.4%) 0
25th 1987 14 / 166 (8.4%) 0
26th 1989 13 / 166 (7.8%) 0
27th 1992 20 / 166 (12.0%) 3
28th 1997 20 / 166 (12.0%) 2
29th 2002 22 / 166 (13.2%) 1
30th 2007 22 / 166 (13.2%) 1
31st 2011 25 / 166 (15.1%) 3
32nd 2016 35 / 158 (22.1%) 0
33rd 2020 36 / 160 (22.5%) 1
34th 2024 44 / 174 (25.3%) 0

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Year of first election
  2. ^ b. stands for by-election
  3. ^ Age at first election
  4. ^ re-elected in June 1927, died in July

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. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  3. ^ "First election under gender quotas yields 35 women TDs: More than 22% of TDs will be female, compared with 15% per cent in 2011". Irish Times. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
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