Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Mary Mitchell O’Connor is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. She was elected as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Dún Laoghaire
constituency at the 2011 general election. She was a Progressive Democrats
County Councillor before joining Fine Gael in 2007.
, County Galway
. She graduated from Carysfort College
and worked as a teacher. She was appointed principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne
, County Meath
. In 1999 she became school principal at The Harold School, a position she held until her election to the Dáil. She lives in Cabinteely
, Dublin, with her two sons.
(PD) candidate, she was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
. As a Councillor, she campaigned against the reintroduction of university fees, against the budget-related increase in pupil-teacher ratios. She also took part in the Sandycove
Tidy Towns campaign.
In 2006, when the Maritime Museum
closed, she called on the council to financially support it.
In December 2007 she resigned from Progressive Democrats and joined Fine Gael
. Welcoming her to the party, Enda Kenny
said that it was "the first move by a PD
public representative to join an alternative party since the general election". Mitchell O'Connor said that she "made a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me". In 2008–09, she was Chairperson of Dun Laoghaire Area Committee for Transport, Economic Development and Planning.
In June 2009, she was re-elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. She was the Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Environment, Housing, Culture, Community Development and Amenities. She has led campaigns to protect public amenities in Dún Laoghaire
, including public access to the sea front, public transport, and she campaigned to prevent the acquisition of Dún Laoghaire baths by private companies. She has also campaigned against high-rise development which was regarded by many local people as inappropriate for Dún Laoghaire. In 2010, she led the Save the Sandycove Green Campaign against adding more parking spaces to Sandycove Green. She called for an introduction of higher standards of building regulations, in order to increase the quality of new buildings, at the same time protecting the environment.
candidate for the Dún Laoghaire
constituency.
Mitchell O'Connor was elected as a TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency constituency at the 2011 general election. The newly-elected Fine Gael TD, surprised staff at Leinster House
on 2 March 2011 by driving her campaign car across the pedestrian plinth in the Dáil car park and down the steps. The plinth has a ramp at one side to facilitate wheelchair access, but steps at the other end. The incident was witnessed by several journalists and was reported on by RTÉ
evening news.
During a Dail session in July 2011, she was referred to as Miss Piggy
by Mick Wallace
, a member of the technical group. She then turned the Leinster House
pink the following Friday in aid of breast cancer
.
, so that women can work efficiently there. She currently campaigns for eviction of men who are perpetrators of domestic violence.
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,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. She was elected as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency at the 2011 general election. She was a 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...
County Councillor before joining Fine Gael in 2007.
Biography
She was born in MilltownMilltown, County Galway
Milltown is a small village in County Galway, Ireland. It is situated on the banks of the River Clare, 47 km from Galway City, 11 km from Tuam on the N17 road to Sligo.-Transport:...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. She graduated from Carysfort College
Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort
Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort was an important College of Education in Dublin, Ireland from its foundation in 1877 until its closure in 1988...
and worked as a teacher. She was appointed principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne
Skryne
Skryne, officially Skreen , is a village with apopulation of 1403 , situated on and around a hill between the N2 and N3 national primary roads in County Meath, Ireland. It is situated on the far side of the Gabhra valley from the Hill of Tara. This valley is sometimes referred to as the Tara-Skryne...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In 1999 she became school principal at The Harold School, a position she held until her election to the Dáil. She lives in Cabinteely
Cabinteely
Cabinteely is a south-eastern suburb of Dublin in Ireland, in the administrative county of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.-History:There is a prehistoric burial tomb known as Brennanstown Portal Tomb, Glendruid cromlech/dolmen, or The Druids’ Altar near Cabinteely....
, Dublin, with her two sons.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
In 2004 as a Progressive DemocratsProgressive 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...
(PD) candidate, she was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. It serves a population of...
. As a Councillor, she campaigned against the reintroduction of university fees, against the budget-related increase in pupil-teacher ratios. She also took part in the Sandycove
Sandycove
Sandycove is an area of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Dún Laoghaire and Glasthule, but north of Dalkey.Sandycove is well-known for its gentlemen's bathing place, the Forty Foot, which in the past afforded a quiet swimming haven for males only...
Tidy Towns campaign.
In 2006, when the Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum of Ireland
The National Maritime Museum of Ireland opened in 1978 in the former Mariners' Church in Haigh Terrace, near the centre of Dún Laoghaire town, southeast of Dublin city.The church was built in 1837 for seafarers and remained open until 1971...
closed, she called on the council to financially support it.
In December 2007 she resigned from Progressive Democrats and joined Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
. Welcoming her to the party, Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
said that it was "the first move by a PD
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...
public representative to join an alternative party since the general election". Mitchell O'Connor said that she "made a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me". In 2008–09, she was Chairperson of Dun Laoghaire Area Committee for Transport, Economic Development and Planning.
In June 2009, she was re-elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. She was the Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Environment, Housing, Culture, Community Development and Amenities. She has led campaigns to protect public amenities in Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
, including public access to the sea front, public transport, and she campaigned to prevent the acquisition of Dún Laoghaire baths by private companies. She has also campaigned against high-rise development which was regarded by many local people as inappropriate for Dún Laoghaire. In 2010, she led the Save the Sandycove Green Campaign against adding more parking spaces to Sandycove Green. She called for an introduction of higher standards of building regulations, in order to increase the quality of new buildings, at the same time protecting the environment.
Dáil Éireann
In December 2010 she was selected as a Fine GaelFine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
candidate for the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency.
Mitchell O'Connor was elected as a TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency constituency at the 2011 general election. The newly-elected Fine Gael TD, surprised staff at Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
on 2 March 2011 by driving her campaign car across the pedestrian plinth in the Dáil car park and down the steps. The plinth has a ramp at one side to facilitate wheelchair access, but steps at the other end. The incident was witnessed by several journalists and was reported on by RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
evening news.
During a Dail session in July 2011, she was referred to as Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
by Mick Wallace
Mick Wallace
Mick Wallace is an Irish independent politician, property developer and former football manager.-Early life:He was born in Wellingtonbridge, Wexford...
, a member of the technical group. She then turned the Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
pink the following Friday in aid of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
Campaign for women's rights
Mitchell O'Connor is an advocate for women's rights. In August 2010 she called for a reform of Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, so that women can work efficiently there. She currently campaigns for eviction of men who are perpetrators of domestic violence.