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
  • 1950–1951
  • 1954–1969
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
  • 1979–1982
  • 1983–1987
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
  • 1981–1983
  • 2002–2007
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
  • 1982
  • 1993–2002
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
  • 1989–1992
  • 1997–2002
Carmencita Hederman 1989 Dublin University Independent 49 1989–1993
Mary Jackman 1989 Labour Panel Fine Gael 46
  • 1989–1993
  • 1997–2002
Helen Keogh 1989 Nominated by the Taoiseach Progressive Democrats 38
  • 1989–1993
  • 1997–2002
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 2016–2024
Frances Black 2016 Industrial and Commercial Panel Independent 55 2016–
Maria Byrne 2016 Agricultural Panel Fine Gael 48
  • 2016–2020
  • 2021–
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 45 2019–2025
Lynn Boylan 2020 Agricultural Panel Sinn Féin 33 2020–2024
Lisa Chambers 2020 Cultural and Educational Panel Fianna Fáil 33 2020–2025
Annie Hoey 2020 Agricultural Panel Labour 31 2020–2025
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 2020–2025
Fiona O'Loughlin 2020 Administrative Panel Fianna Fáil 54 2020–
Pauline O'Reilly 2020 Labour Panel Green 46 2020–2025
Marie Sherlock 2020 Labour Panel Labour 2020–2024
Emer Currie 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 42 2020–2024
Regina Doherty 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 49 2020–2024
Aisling Dolan 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 45 2020–2025
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 2020–2025
Mary Seery Kearney 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 2020–2025
Erin McGreehan 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil 37 2020–2024
Nikki Bradley 2024 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 38 2024–
Anne Rabbitte 2024 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil 51 2024–
Nicole Ryan 2020 Administrative Panel Sinn Féin 31 2025–
Joanne Collins 2025 Agricultural Panel Sinn Féin 2025–
Teresa Costello 2025 Agricultural Panel Fianna Fáil 47 2025–
Eileen Lynch 2025 Agricultural Panel Fine Gael 2025–
Sarah O'Reilly 2025 Agricultural Panel Aontú 49 2025–
Pauline Tully 2025 Cultural and Educational Panel Sinn Féin 53 2025–
Laura Harmon 2025 Industrial and Commercial Panel Labour 38 2025–
Linda Nelson Murray 2025 Industrial and Commercial Panel Fine Gael 2025–
Nessa Cosgrove 2025 Labour Panel Labour 2025–
Maria McCormack 2025 Labour Panel Sinn Féin 2025–
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony 2025 Labour Panel Fianna Fáil 55 2025–
Patricia Stephenson 2025 Labour Panel Social Democrats 2025–
Alison Comyn 2025 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil 55 2025–
Imelda Goldsboro 2025 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil 2025–
Evanne Ní Chuilinn 2025 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael 43 2025–
Dee Ryan 2025 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fianna Fáil 2025–

Timeline

1922 to 2020

Pippa HackettLynn RuaneGrace O'SullivanJennifer Murnane O'ConnorMichelle MulherinGabrielle McFaddenColette KelleherMaura HopkinsAlice-Mary HigginsJoan Freeman (politician)Máire DevineRose Conway-WalshLorraine Clifford-LeeMaria ByrneFrances BlackCatherine ArdaghMáiría CahillHildegarde NaughtonKatherine ZapponeJillian van TurnhoutKathryn ReillyAveril PowerSusan O'KeeffeMarie-Louise O'DonnellMary Ann O'BrienCatherine NooneMary Moran (politician)Marie MoloneyCáit KeaneLorraine HigginsImelda HenryAideen HaydenDeirdre ClunePhil PrendergastFiona O'MalleyNicky McFaddenLisa McDonaldCecilia KeaveneyFidelma Healy EamesDéirdre de BúrcaFrances Fitzgerald (politician)Maria CorriganIvana BacikKate Walsh (politician)Geraldine FeeneyMary White (Fianna Fáil politician)Sheila Terry (politician)Joanna TuffyTherese RidgeMáirín QuillKathleen O'MearaAnn LeonardMargaret CoxNiamh CosgraveNiamh BhreathnachAnn OrmondeJan O'SullivanMarian McGennisMary Kelly (politician)Cathy HonanMary Henry (doctor)Ann GallagherHelen KeoghMary JackmanCarmencita HedermanAvril DoyleOlga BennettMary WallaceBríd RodgersNuala FennellHelena McAuliffe-EnnisMadeleine Taylor-QuinnMonica BarnesCamilla HannonMary O'RourkePatsy LawlorMiriam KearneyKatharine BulbuliaDeirdre BolgerCatherine McGuinnessGemma HusseyTras HonanMary HarneyValerie GouldingEileen CassidyMary Walsh (politician)Peggy Farrell (politician)Mary RobinsonEvelyn OwensEileen DesmondKit AhernNora Connolly O'BrienJane DowdallMary Davidson (Irish politician)Eleanor ButlerMargaret Mary PearseLinda Kearns MacWhinneyMargaret L. KennedyHelena ConcannonKathleen BrowneJennie Wyse PowerAlice Stopford GreenEllen Cuffe, Countess of DesartEileen Costello

From 2020

Dee RyanEvanne Ní ChuilinnImelda GoldsboroAlison ComynPatricia StephensonMargaret Murphy O'MahonyMaria McCormackNessa CosgroveLinda Nelson MurrayLaura HarmonPauline TullySarah O'ReillyEileen LynchTeresa CostelloJoanne CollinsNicole RyanAnne RabbitteMary Seery KearneyErin McGreehanRóisín GarveyEileen Flynn (politician)Mary FitzpatrickAisling DolanRegina DohertyEmer CurrieMarie SherlockPauline O'ReillyFiona O'Loughlin (politician)Rebecca MoynihanElisha McCallionSharon KeoganAnnie HoeyLynn BoylanLisa Chambers

Number of women in each Seanad

Seanad Election Number (%) By-elections
1st 1922 4 / 60 (6%) 1
2nd 1937 4 / 60 (6%) 0
3rd 1938 3 / 60 (5%) 0
4th 1943 3 / 60 (5%) 0
5th 1944 3 / 60 (5%) 0
6th 1948 3 / 60 (5%) 1
7th 1951 3 / 60 (5%) 0
8th 1954 3 / 60 (5%) 0
9th 1957 4 / 60 (6%) 0
10th 1961 3 / 60 (5%) 1
11th 1965 4 / 60 (6%) 0
12th 1969 5 / 60 (8%) 0
13th 1973 4 / 60 (6%) 0
14th 1977 6 / 60 (10%) 1
15th 1981 9 / 60 (15%) 0
16th 1982 (Feb) 8 / 60 (13%) 0
17th 1982 (Nov) 6 / 60 (10%) 1
18th 1987 5 / 60 (8%) 0
19th 1989 6 / 60 (10%) 0
20th 1992 8 / 60 (13%) 2
21st 1997 11 / 60 (18%) 1
22nd 2002 10 / 60 (16%) 0
23rd 2007 13 / 60 (21%) 0
24th 2011 18 / 60 (30%) 2
25th 2016 18 / 60 (30%) 1
26th 2020 24 / 60 (40%) 1
27th 2025 27 / 60 (45%) 0

See also

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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