Former senator Tras Honan launches ‘Women in the Seanad’ exhibition at Leinster House

Former Seanad Cathaoirleach Tras Honan has today launched the ‘Women in the Seanad’ exhibition at Leinster House.

The former Fianna Fail senator was invited to open the exhibition by Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Mark Daly as the only woman ever to be elected as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

She was nominated and elected, unopposed, in 1982 and was re-elected to the position in 1987.

‘Women in the Seanad’ is the second exhibition to mark the Upper House’s centenary celebrations. In keeping with the ‘Minority Voices, Major Changes’ theme of Seanad 100, the exhibition highlights the lives and work of women senators who have championed minority issues since the first sitting of the Seanad in 1922.

The exhibition showcases 26 such former senators, ranging from the first to the 25th Seanad. Members of the 26th Seanad are represented in a group photo taken in the Seanad chamber.

Former senator Tras Honan

The exhibition also lists every woman member of the Seanad over the last 100 years, from the four women senators elected in 1922, to the 23 women senators in the current Seanad.

Commenting, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Mark Daly (pictured above with Tras Honan) said:

“Our Seanad 100 commemoration aims to showcase the unique role that Seanad Éireann – and so many members – have played in helping to shape our country.

“Ensuring that women are no longer a minority voice in Irish politics and in Irish life has been a major change doggedly pursued by members of the Seanad.

“This exhibition captures many of those women senators who used their position to campaign for equality over the past 100 years.

“The featured senators approached their quest to achieve this from a range of political perspectives, each using their seat to progress the essential need for women to be respected as an equal voice in politics and in society in Ireland.

“Tras Honan is one such senator and I am delighted that she is here with us today to open this exhibition.”

“I was honoured to have been asked to launch this exhibition and to be featured amongst so many determined and capable women who have achieved so much for this country.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in learning about the impact women senators have had over the years to take a look at this exhibition, and I thank the team who assembled it.”

The ‘Women in the Seanad’ exhibition is on display in the foyer of Leinster House and can be accessed by members of the public via tours of the building.

The exhibition can also be viewed online at www.oireachtas.ie/seanad100, along with the Seanad100 programme.