An Evening With … Senator Mary O'Rourke

Mary O'Rourke is a Fianna Fáil politician and leader of Seanad Eireann. She was born in Athlone, County Westmeath in 1937, the daughter of Patrick Lenihan, himself a Fianna Fáil TD. She was educated in University College Dublin and qualified as a secondary school teacher. She worked in local politics between 1974 and 1987 when she served on Athlone Urban District Council. In the November 1982 general election, she was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Longford Westmeath constituency.

Between 1987 and November 1991, she served as Minister for Education. She and Brian Lenihan became the first brother and sister to serve in the same cabinet. She was subsequently appointed Minister for Health. In February 1992, she contested the leadership of Fianna Fáil with Michael Woods and Albert Reynolds. When Reynolds became party leader, O'Rourke was dropped from the cabinet. She was then appointed Minister for State at the Departments of Industry and Commerce and later Enterprise and Employment.

When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994, O'Rourke became deputy leader of Fianna Fáil. Following Ahern's election as Taoiseach in June 1997, she became Minister for Public Enterprise. She lost her Dáil seat in the 2002 general election. O'Rourke is currently leader of the upper house of the Oireachtas, Seanad Eireann.

Waterford Cheshire, Friday 15 October, 8 pm

Tickets: €20 & €10 (inc. Refreshments), Waterford Cheshire, 051 871 993

Note : This event is a fundraiser for Waterford Cheshire Homes.