Ireland Heads of State

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Heads of State of Ireland/ Éire/ Poblacht na h'Eirean
(Female Suffrage 1918/22) Formerly a British Crown Colony, independent Free State 1922, Republic 1937

Also see Ireland Ministers

... Semi legendary Reigning Queen Macha Mong Ruad
Her name meaing "red mane", she was daughter of Áed Rúad, and, according to medieval legend and historical tradition, the only queen in the List of High Kings of Ireland. Her father rotated the kingship with his cousins Díthorba and Cimbáeth, seven years at a time. Áed died after his third stint as king, and when his turn came round again, she claimed the kingship. Díthorba and Cimbáeth refused to allow a woman to take the throne, and a battle ensued. She won, and Díthorba was killed. She won a second battle against Díthorba's sons, who fled into the wilderness of Connacht. She married Cimbáeth, with whom she shared the kingship. She pursued Díthorba's sons alone, disguised as a leper, and overcame each of them in turn when they tried to have sex with her, tied them up, and carried the three of them bodily to Ulster. The Ulstermen wanted to have them killed, but Macha instead enslaved them and forced them to build the stronghold of Emain Macha (Navan Fort near Armagh), to be the capital of the Ulaid, marking out its boundaries with her brooch. She ruled together with Cimbáeth for seven years, until he died of plague at Emain Macha, and then a further fourteen years on her own, until she was killed by Rechtaid Rígderg. The Lebor Gabála synchronises her reign to that of Ptolemy I Soter (323-283 BC). The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates her reign to 468-461 BC, the Annals of the Four Masters to 661-654 BC.

Around  year 1 Queen Medb of Connaught

1014-72 Queen Dearbforgail of Munster and Ireland
She was daughter of King Brian Bory, her husband was king Dermont MacMilmamo of Lienster was also king of Ireland.

1185 Lady Aoife (Eva) MacMurrough of Leinster, Countess of Ireland

1689-94 Queen Mary of England and Ireland

1702-14 Queen Anne of England and Ireland

1837-1901 Victoria By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India

1964-74 Member of the Council of State Jane Dowdall
Senator 1954-57, Lord Mayor of Cork 1959-60. She lived (1899-1974)

1975-86 Member of the Council of State Siobhán McKenna
Actress.


1982-83 and 1987-89 Member
of the The Presidential Commission and Member of the Council of State Trás Horan/Treasa Ui' hEoghanaín
In her capacity as President of the Senate, she was Member of the Presidential Commission, which  steps in to perform the functions of the President if he or she is absent, becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns, is removed from office or fails to perform his or her functions The other members are  the Chief Justice and the Chairperson of the Dáil. If any of those people are unable to act, the President of the High Court, the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Dáil Speaker, can act as members instead. Any two of the members of the Presidential Commission can perform the functions of the President. The Presidential Commission frequently acts instead of the President while he or she is abroad, for example, by signing Bills into law. Tras Horan was Leas Cheann Comharlie/Deputy President of the Senád Eirean 1983-87. (b. 1930-)  

1983-90 Member of the Council of State Máirín Bean Uí Dhalaigh née Nic Dhiarmada
A scholar of the Irish language and wife of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who served as President of Ireland from 1974–76. She lived (1908-1994)'

1988-90 and 2012- Member of the Council of State Catherine McGuinness
Barrister, former Senator, judge and Supreme Court Judge (b. 1934-)

1989-90 Member of the Council of State Gemma Hussey
Fine Gael TD and Minister

1990-97 President Mary Robinson/Uachtarán na hÉireann Máire Mac Roíbín (3.12-12.9)
1997- Member of the Council of State
Professor of Law since 1969, Senator 1970-90, A ssistant Secretary General and United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights from 1997. Mother of two children. (b. 1944-)  

1991-95 Member of the Council of State Monica Barnes
Fine Gael TD. Resigned to make way for Mary O'Rourke.

1991-97 Member of the Council of State Patricia O'Donovan
Trade union barrister

1991-97 Member of the Council of State Rosemarie Smith
Irish Farmers' Association official

1995-97 Member of the Council of State Mary O'Rourke
Former MP, Minister and Vice-Premier.

1997-2011 President Mary McAleese/Uachtarán na hÉireann Máire Pádraigín Bean Mhic Ghiolla Íosa (11.11-)
2011- Member of the Council of State
Professor of Law, 1993-97 Prochancellor of University of Belfast, the first person from Northern Ireland and British citizen to be elected President of Ireland.
2004 she was returned unopposed for a second term (b. 1951- )

1997-2004 Member of the Council of State Christina Carney Flynn

1997-2004 Member of the Council of State Ruth Curtis

2004-11 Member of the Council of State Anastasia Crickley

2004-11 Member of the Council of State Mary Davis
Presidential Candidate in 2011.

2004-07 Member of the Council of State Daráine Mulvihill

2011- Member of the The Presidential Commission and Member of the Council of State Susan Denham
High Court judge in 1991 and Judge of the Supreme Court since 1992 and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 2011.


2011- Member of the Council of State, the Attorney General Máire Whelan

2012- Member of the Council of State Deidre Heenan

2012- Member of the Council of State Sally Mulready

 


Last update 03.10.13