Helena McAuliffe-Ennis
Encyclopedia
Helena McAuliffe-Ennis is a former Labour Party
and Progressive Democrats
politician from County Westmeath
in Ireland
. She was a senator
from 1983 to 1987.
McAuliffe was born in 1951 in Milltownpass
, County Westmeath; her father Timothy McAuliffe
was later a Labour Party senator.
She was educated at Milltownpass national school, Rochfortbridge
national school, and then at Scoil Catríona in Eccles Street, Dublin. She then trained as a teacher at Craiglockart College of Education in Edinburgh
, graduating in 1972. She later took a postgraduate diploma in adult and community education at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
from 1989 to 1990, and worked as an adult literacy organiser.
She joined the Labour Party in the 1970s, and when her father stood down from Seanad Éireann
at the 1983 election, she stood as a Labour candidate for his seat on the Cultural and Educational Panel. She was elected to the 17th Seanad, but defected to the Progressive Democrats
(PDs) when the new party was founded in December 1985, having been elected to Westmeath County Council
earlier that year as a Labour candidate. After unsuccessfully contesting the 1987 general election
as a PD candidate in the Longford–Westmeath constitituency, she did not stand in the 1987 election to the 18th Seanad. In 1988 she rejoined the Labour Party.
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
and Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
politician from County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. She was a senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from 1983 to 1987.
McAuliffe was born in 1951 in Milltownpass
Milltownpass
Milltownpass is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located in the south of the county on the R446 regional road formerly the N6 national primary route. The old route was replaced by a dual-carriageway in 2006, bypassing the village. Milltownpass is the second largest village in the...
, County Westmeath; her father Timothy McAuliffe
Timothy McAuliffe
Timothy McAuliffe was a Labour Party and politician from County Westmeath in Ireland. He was a senator for 18 years between 1961 and 1983....
was later a Labour Party senator.
She was educated at Milltownpass national school, Rochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland, with a population of 1,473 persons. It is located at the intersection of the R400 and the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village....
national school, and then at Scoil Catríona in Eccles Street, Dublin. She then trained as a teacher at Craiglockart College of Education in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, graduating in 1972. She later took a postgraduate diploma in adult and community education at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
from 1989 to 1990, and worked as an adult literacy organiser.
She joined the Labour Party in the 1970s, and when her father stood down from Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
at the 1983 election, she stood as a Labour candidate for his seat on the Cultural and Educational Panel. She was elected to the 17th Seanad, but defected to the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
(PDs) when the new party was founded in December 1985, having been elected to Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Westmeath in Ireland. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The head of the council has the title of...
earlier that year as a Labour candidate. After unsuccessfully contesting the 1987 general election
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
as a PD candidate in the Longford–Westmeath constitituency, she did not stand in the 1987 election to the 18th Seanad. In 1988 she rejoined the Labour Party.