History of Limerick Women in Politics

Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to give women the the right to vote and the right to sit on both local authorities and in parliament.

Limerick women took an active part in the fight for women’s political rights.

  • Limerick Women in Politics - Kathleen Clarke, Countess Markievicz, Kate O' Callaghan and Margaret Pearse, mother of Padraig Pearse (National Library of Ireland)

Image: Kathleen Clarke, Countess Markievicz, Kate O' Callaghan and Margaret Pearse, mother of Padraig Pearse (National Library of Ireland)
 

Year Rights Granted to Women
1896 To sit on boards of guardians.
1899 To vote in local elections and sit on urban and rural district councils.
1911 To sit on county and city councils
1918 To vote and city in Parliament/Oireachtas aged 30 and over (men could vote at 21 and over)
1922 To vote aged 21 and over (full equality with men)

Historian Sharon Slater tells us that women born or living in Limerick who were pioneers in this area include Mabel Dodds, Helen Laird, Margaret Hinchey and the sisters Eileen and Louisa Hawkes. Limerick women were also active in the Irish Revolution (1916-23), including Mary Perolz, Madge Daly, Mary Spring-Rice, Molly Clancy and Margaret Hartney.

Accordingly, Limerick women have been very active in public life for over a century.

Emily Crowe, Limerick City Council 1920 (seated) with her husband Timothy and daughter Gertrude (Kay Crowe, Tim Crowe and Limerick Genealogy)
Emily Crowe (seated) with her husband Timothy and daughter Gertrude (Kay Crowe, Tim Crowe and Limerick Genealogy)
Frances Condell Mayor of Limerick 1962 (Limerick Museum)
Frances Condell, Mayor of Limerick 1962 (Image: Limerick Museum)
Year Name First Woman to Hold Office
1920 Emily Crowe To sit on Limerick City Council
1921 Máire O’Donovan To serve as Acting Mayor of Limerick City (she was born in County Cork)
1921 Kathleen Clarke To sit in the Dáil
1921 Kate O’Callaghan To represent a Limerick constituency in the Dáil (she was born in County Cork)
1939 Kathleen Clarke To serve as Mayor in Ireland (she was the furst Lord Mayor of Dublin)
1962 Frances Condell To serve as Mayor of Limerick City
1964 Nora Wrenn To sit on Limerick County Council
1964 Kit Ahern To sit in Seanad Eireann
1998 Mary Jackman To serve as Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council
2014 Jan O’Sullivan To be a Cabinet Minister
Nora Wrenn, Limerick County Council 1964 (Pic Limerick Leader)
Nora Wrenn, Limerick County Council 1964 (Pic Limerick Leader)
Mary Jackman, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council 1998
Mary Jackman, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council 1998.

Since the 1960s, there has been an ever increasing female presence on Limerick local authorities. On Limerick City Council, the number of women elected increased from one in 1960, to two in 1979 and three in 1999. On Limerick County Council, the number of female members increased from one in 1964 to two in 1967, three in 1989, four in 1999 and six in 2004. Since the establishment of Limerick City and County Council, the number of women elected has increased from six in 2014 to a record nine in 2020.

In total, there have been two female TDs elected for Limerick constituencies: Kate O’Callaghan (1921-23) and Jan O’Sullivan (1998-2020).

Currently, there are two Limerick women in the Oireachtas: Neasa Hourigan, TD for Dublin Central and Maria Byrne, a member of the Seanad.

History of Limerick Women in Politics by Dr Matthew Potter, Curator, Limerick Museum.