Tras Honan
Encyclopedia
Tras Honan (born 4 January 1930) is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician from Ennis
in County Clare
who served as a senator
for 15 years and was elected to the position of Cathaoirleach
(Chair of Seanad Éireann
) on two occasions,
Honan was born in Dublin and educated at St. Leo's Convent, Carlow
and at the Mercy Convent, Clonmel
. Honan worked as a housewife and businesswoman before becoming active in politics.
In 1977, she was elected to the 14th Seanad as a Fianna Fáil candidate on the Administrative Panel and served for 15 years until her defeat at the 1993 elections to the 20th Seanad. In 1982, in the short-lived 16th Seanad, she was elected to the position of Cathaoirleach
, the first woman to hold the post. In 1983, in the 17th Seanad, she was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach (Deputy Chair), and in 1987 (in the 18th Seanad, she was re-elected as Cathaoirleach.
, a Senator from 1965 to 1975; his father T. V. Honan
was also a Senator from 1934 to 1954. She is also a sister of Carrie Acheson
, a former Teachta Dála
.
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,...
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...
politician from Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
in County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
who served as 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...
for 15 years and was elected to the position of 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...
(Chair of 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...
) on two occasions,
Honan was born in Dublin and educated at St. Leo's Convent, Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
and at the Mercy Convent, Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
. Honan worked as a housewife and businesswoman before becoming active in politics.
In 1977, she was elected to the 14th Seanad as a Fianna Fáil candidate on the Administrative Panel and served for 15 years until her defeat at the 1993 elections to the 20th Seanad. In 1982, in the short-lived 16th Seanad, she was elected to the position of 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...
, the first woman to hold the post. In 1983, in the 17th Seanad, she was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach (Deputy Chair), and in 1987 (in the 18th Seanad, she was re-elected as Cathaoirleach.
Family
Honan is the widow of Dermot HonanDermot Honan
Dermot Patrick Honan was a Fianna Fáil politician from County Clare in Ireland who served as a senator for 8 years.An licensed vinter before entering politics, he was elected in 1965 to the 11th Seanad Éireann on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, and was re-elected in 1969 to the 12th Seanad...
, a Senator from 1965 to 1975; his father T. V. Honan
T. V. Honan
Thomas V. Honan , known as T. V. Honan, was a Fianna Fáil politician in Ireland who served as a senator for 20 years....
was also a Senator from 1934 to 1954. She is also a sister of Carrie Acheson
Carrie Acheson
Caroline "Carrie" Acheson is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.-Career:Acheson was born in Tipperary in 1934, daughter of Matt Barlow, Republican activist in the Irish War of Independence. She was educated at the Presentation Convent, Clonmel, the Convent of Mercy, Carlow and the London School...
, a former 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...
.