Toireasa Ferris
Encyclopedia
Toiréasa Ferris is an Irish Sinn Féin
politician. Her father, Martin Ferris
, is a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála
(TD) for Kerry North.
in her native Tralee and in the University of Limerick. In 2005, she became the first female Mayor of Kerry, after earlier becoming the first Sinn Féin Cathaoirleach
(Chairperson) of Kerry County Council
in 2003. Co-opted in 2003 to the seat held by her father, Martin Ferris, she was elected to the Kerry County Council in 2004, taking the first of 7 seats. She served as Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council between 2005–2006. At present, Ferris serves as a full-time Sinn Féin Councillor on Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council.
On 18 October 2008 she was selected as a candidate in the European Parliament
election in 2009 for the South constituency. She was not elected after receiving 13%. However she received 64,671 of the first preference vote double the number of 2004 results and coming third in terms of first preferences. In an article in the weekly newspaper An Phoblacht
she gave an analysis of the current direction of the party saying that the party "means nothing" to the bulk of people in the Republic and that there was a perception amongst voters that Sinn Féin was a northern-based party.
In March 2009, she was voted the 7th most beautiful politician in the world by Spain's 20 Minutos newspaper.
and in an interview with Pat Kenny
said she could not condemn the killing of Garda
Jerry McCabe
in Adare
in 1996. Ferris stated that “It wouldn’t be fair to condemn one individual action when over 3,000 were killed. I don’t feel I have the right, or that it would be fair to condemn one individual act,” The Pat Kenny Late Late Show interview also caused comment because her "knee-length" skirt hiked up when she crossed her legs. RTÉ was sharply criticised for having their cameras pan her legs and skirt in the middle of the interview and creating a "tabloid" atmosphere and cheapening her appearance.
Fine Gael
councillor
s in Kerry County Council
attempted to table a vote of no confidence. However she survived by a wide margin due to the support of Fianna Fáil
councillors.
, County Kerry with her husband Patrick, and their daughter. In 2001, Ferris spent seven months working in Mexico with a local workers' rights group.
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...
politician. Her father, Martin Ferris
Martin Ferris
Martin Ferris is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and a former Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Kerry North–West Limerick constituency since 2002 and is one of fourteen Sinn Féin representatives in the current Dáil.-Early life:Ferris was born in...
, is a Sinn Féin 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 Kerry North.
Political career
Ferris started her political activism with the party youth wing Ógra Shinn FéinÓgra Shinn Féin
Ógra Shinn Féin is the youth wing of the Irish political party Sinn Féin. ÓSF is active and organised throughout Ireland. It is often considered the most prominent incarnation of Fianna Éireann. Upon its establishment in 1997 it was originally known as Sinn Féin Youth, it changed to Ógra Shinn...
in her native Tralee and in the University of Limerick. In 2005, she became the first female Mayor of Kerry, after earlier becoming the first Sinn Féin Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(Chairperson) of Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry 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 Mayor...
in 2003. Co-opted in 2003 to the seat held by her father, Martin Ferris, she was elected to the Kerry County Council in 2004, taking the first of 7 seats. She served as Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council between 2005–2006. At present, Ferris serves as a full-time Sinn Féin Councillor on Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council.
On 18 October 2008 she was selected as a candidate in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
election in 2009 for the South constituency. She was not elected after receiving 13%. However she received 64,671 of the first preference vote double the number of 2004 results and coming third in terms of first preferences. In an article in the weekly 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...
she gave an analysis of the current direction of the party saying that the party "means nothing" to the bulk of people in the Republic and that there was a perception amongst voters that Sinn Féin was a northern-based party.
In March 2009, she was voted the 7th most beautiful politician in the world by Spain's 20 Minutos newspaper.
Controversial interview
In February 2006, she appeared on The Late Late ShowThe Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
and in an interview with Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
said she could not condemn the killing of Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
Jerry McCabe
Jerry McCabe
Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was a member of the Garda Síochána, the police force of the Republic of Ireland. McCabe was murdered in Adare, County Limerick on 7 June 1996, by members of the paramilitary group, the Provisional IRA, during the attempted robbery of a post office van.-Early...
in Adare
Adare
-General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government...
in 1996. Ferris stated that “It wouldn’t be fair to condemn one individual action when over 3,000 were killed. I don’t feel I have the right, or that it would be fair to condemn one individual act,” The Pat Kenny Late Late Show interview also caused comment because her "knee-length" skirt hiked up when she crossed her legs. RTÉ was sharply criticised for having their cameras pan her legs and skirt in the middle of the interview and creating a "tabloid" atmosphere and cheapening her appearance.
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...
councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s in Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry 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 Mayor...
attempted to table a vote of no confidence. However she survived by a wide margin due to the support of Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
councillors.
Personal life
Ferris is currently a part-time tutor in law at Tralee Community College. She lives in ArdfertArdfert
Ardfert is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Historically a religious centre, the economy of the locality is driven by agriculture and its position as a dormitory town, being only 8 km from Tralee.-Origin:...
, County Kerry with her husband Patrick, and their daughter. In 2001, Ferris spent seven months working in Mexico with a local workers' rights group.