Rose Conway-Walsh
TD
Conway-Walsh in 2020
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyMayo
Leader of Sinn Féin in the Seanad
In office
11 May 2016 – 9 February 2020
LeaderGerry Adams
Mary Lou McDonald
Preceded byDavid Cullinane
Succeeded byNiall Ó Donnghaile
Senator
In office
27 April 2016 – 9 February 2020
ConstituencyAgricultural Panel
Personal details
Born
Rose Conway

1969 or 1970 (age 53–54)[1]
Ballycroy, County Mayo, Ireland
Political partySinn Féin
Spouse
Noel Walsh
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2
Alma materNUI Galway (BA)
Websiteroseconwaywalsh.ie

Rose Conway-Walsh (née Conway; born 1969/1970) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency since the 2020 general election. She previously served as a Leader of Sinn Féin in the Seanad and a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 2016 to 2020.[2][3]

Early life

Conway-Walsh grew up in Ballycroy, County Mayo and is one of nine children. She attended primary school in Ballycroy before attending a convent in Belmullet.[4] She moved to London when she was 19. On returning to Ireland, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in public management and a Master's degree in Local Government from NUI Galway.[5] Prior to entering politics, she worked in community development.[6]

Political career

Conway-Walsh has been a member of Sinn Féin's Ard Comhairle since 1990.[6] She founded the Sinn Féin Mayo Women's Movement in response to the lack of women in politics.[7]

In 2009, she was elected to Mayo County Council for the Belmullet local area, becoming the first female councillor ever elected in Belmullet.[6] She was re-elected in 2014, topping the poll and being elected on the first count.[8]

She was elected to the Seanad in 2016, topping the poll in the Agricultural Panel and being deemed elected on the first count.[9]

She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Mayo constituency at the 2011 and 2016 general elections,[10] before winning election in 2020. Conway-Walsh is the first Sinn Féin TD to represent County Mayo in almost 100 years; the last Sinn Féin TD to be elected in Mayo was John Madden in June 1927.[11]

In July 2021 she attracted criticism for comparing segregated reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic to the segregation of the American South and the struggle of Rosa Parks, for which she later apologised.[12][13]

She is the party's spokesperson on Higher Education, Innovation, and Science.

Personal life

Conway married Noel Walsh in 2000. They live in Belmullet with their two sons.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Election 2020: Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Féin)". Irish Times. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mayo results: Michael Ring and SF's Rose Conway-Walsh take first and second seats". The Irish Times. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Rose Conway-Walsh". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Bringing it home in Mayo". An Phoblacht. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "About". Rose Conway-Walsh. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Election 2020: Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Féin)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Gannon, Colm (23 January 2009). "It's time for politicians to be honest with people". Mayo Advertiser. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "Mayo County Council". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Gannon, Colm (26 April 2016). "Swanick and Conway Walsh take Seanad seats". Mayo Advertiser. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Rose Conway-Walsh". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  11. ↑ "Historic day as Conway-Walsh is elected". The Connaught Telegraph. 9 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Sinn Féin TD apologises for using Rosa Parks during indoor dining debate". BreakingNews.ie. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Sinn Féin TD apologises for comparing indoor dining policy to segregation in the US". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
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