Lucilita Bhreatnach
Encyclopedia
Lucilita Bhreatnach is an Irish republican politician
and member of Sinn Féin
Growing up in Dublin, Bhreatnach joined Sinn Féin at the age of sixteen and was subsequently active in the Anti H-Block
campaign, becoming the Chair of the Stop Strip-Searching Campaign. She is the daughter of the journalist the late Deasún Breathnach
. She worked for the Sinn Féin newspaper An Phoblacht
in 1982, then on the Australia Desk in the party's Foreign Affairs Bureau.
In 1986, Bhreatnach was elected to the party's Ard Chomhairle, and in 1988, she became its General Secretary. At the 1994 European Parliament election
, Bhreatnach stood in Leinster
, but took only 2.5% of the votes cast and lost her deposit. At the Northern Ireland Forum
election in 1996, Bhreatnach did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as she was placed first on Sinn Féin's "top-up" list.
Bhreatnach was part of the Sinn Féin delegation to talks at Downing Street
in 1998 in the lead-up to the Belfast Agreement
. From 1999 until 2002, she headed the party's Electoral Department, opposing the Nice referendum and planning for the 2001 UK general election
. She stood down as General Secretary in early 2003, moving to a new role, reorganising the party's Roinn an Chultúir and worked as head of its Equality Section, focussing on gender equality. In 2003, she organised a Sinn Féin conference, "Engine for Change — Women and Equality"
, Bhreatnach worked as a journalist
. In December 2007, she was appointed to the all-Ireland Irish language
body Foras na Gaeilge
, and represents that body on the Audience Committee of RTÉ
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Growing up in Dublin, Bhreatnach joined Sinn Féin at the age of sixteen and was subsequently active in the Anti H-Block
Anti H-Block
Anti H-Block was the political label used in 1981 by supporters of the Irish republican hunger strike who were standing for election in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland...
campaign, becoming the Chair of the Stop Strip-Searching Campaign. She is the daughter of the journalist the late Deasún Breathnach
Deasún Breathnach
Deasún Breathnach was an Irish writer and journalist. He wrote Irish poetry, non-fiction, and translations. He was a journalist and sub-editor at the Irish Independent. He used the pseudonym "Rex McGall" for his writing in English at the Irish Independent. He worked as a features editor for the...
. She worked for the Sinn Féin newspaper An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht is the official newspaper of Sinn Féin in Ireland. It is published once a month, and according to its website sells an average of up to 15,000 copies every month and was the first Irish paper to provide an edition online and currently having in excess of 100,000 website hits per...
in 1982, then on the Australia Desk in the party's Foreign Affairs Bureau.
In 1986, Bhreatnach was elected to the party's Ard Chomhairle, and in 1988, she became its General Secretary. At the 1994 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1994 (Ireland)
The 1994 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1994 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details:-See also:...
, Bhreatnach stood in Leinster
Leinster (European Parliament constituency)
-1999 election:Alan Gillis lost his seat to his party running mate Avril Doyle.-1994 election:Alan Gillis replaced his party colleague Patrick Cooney who had stepped down...
, but took only 2.5% of the votes cast and lost her deposit. At the Northern Ireland Forum
Northern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
election in 1996, Bhreatnach did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as she was placed first on Sinn Féin's "top-up" list.
Bhreatnach was part of the Sinn Féin delegation to talks at Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
in 1998 in the lead-up to the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
. From 1999 until 2002, she headed the party's Electoral Department, opposing the Nice referendum and planning for the 2001 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
. She stood down as General Secretary in early 2003, moving to a new role, reorganising the party's Roinn an Chultúir and worked as head of its Equality Section, focussing on gender equality. In 2003, she organised a Sinn Féin conference, "Engine for Change — Women and Equality"
, Bhreatnach worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. In December 2007, she was appointed to the all-Ireland Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
body Foras na Gaeilge
Foras na Gaeilge
Foras na Gaeilge is the governing body of the Irish language, responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island of Ireland. Its name can be translated into English as "The Irish Language Body", although the body has no official English-language name...
, and represents that body on the Audience Committee of RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
.