Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (born 24 May 1966) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since the 2020 general election. She previously served as a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2016 from 2020.[2][3]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 Murnane O'Connor in 2016 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Carlow–Kilkenny |
| Senator | |
| In office 27 April 2016 – 9 February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Murnane 24 May 1966[1] Waterford, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Pat O'Connor (m. 1985) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Cork Institute of Technology |
Political career edit
Murnane O'Connor first ran for the Dáil in 2011, when she polled 6% of the first preference vote in Carlow–Kilkenny for Fianna Fáil.[4]
She did not run in the 2015 by-election in the constituency, caused by the appointment of Phil Hogan to the European Commission, but was chosen to contest the 2016 general election as the Carlow-based candidate on a Fianna Fáil ticket that also featured sitting TDs John McGuinness and Bobby Aylward (who won the 2015 by-election). Murnane O'Connor polled 12% of the first preference vote but was not elected. Murnane O'Connor received 8,373 votes, which was the highest number of votes for a non-elected candidate at that election.
She was subsequently elected as a Senator for the Labour Panel in the 25th Seanad in April 2016, having narrowly missed out on a Dáil seat in the 2016 general election.[5] She was the Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government from 2016 to 2020.
At the general election in February 2020, she was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency.[6][7]
Personal life edit
Murnane O'Connor was born in Waterford in 1966, but is a native of Graiguecullen, County Carlow. She is the daughter of former Carlow County Councillor Jimmy Murnane, who served on the local council for several years. She was co-opted to Carlow Urban District Council in 1999, following her father's retirement. She topped the polls for both for the Urban and County Council at the following elections.[8][9][10]
Prior to her election as a TD, she worked in Graham's, a shoe shop in Carlow. She married Pat O'Connor in 1985. They have two sons and two daughters.
References edit
- ^ Tim Ryan (2020). Nealon's Guide to the 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad and the 2019 Local and European Elections. Grand Canal Publishing.
- ^ "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor". The Journal.ie. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ "Murnane O'Connor slams Minister over lack of respite care in Carlow". The Nationalist. Carlow. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017.
- ^ Tracey, Michael (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Carlow-Kilkenny results: Green Party's Malcolm Noonan takes final seat". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Election 2020: Carlow–Kilkenny". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Carlow County Council Election (2004)". IrelandElection.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Carlow County Council Election (2009)". IrelandElection.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Carlow County Council Election (2014)". IrelandElection.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.