Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll (18 August 1876 – 17 June 1945) was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency from 1923 to 1933.
Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll | |
|---|---|
 Collins-O'Driscoll as she appeared in a 1933 piece of election material | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office August 1923 – January 1933 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Mary Collins 18 August 1876 Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 June 1945 (aged 68) Cabra, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Cumann na nGaedheal |
| Spouse |
Patrick O'Driscoll (m. 1901) |
| Children | 14 |
| Relatives |
|
Early life edit
Margaret Mary Collins was born in Woodfield, Clonakilty, County Cork, on 18 August 1876.[1] The eldest of three daughters and five sons of Michael Collins, a farmer, and Mary Anne O'Brien.[2] She was the eldest sister of the Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins. She was educated at Baggot Street Training College and was a schoolteacher and school principal before entering politics.[3] A primary-school teacher, for many years she was principal of Lisavaird girls' national school in Clonakilty, and also taught in Dublin.[2]
Politics edit
She was the first female Cumann na nGaedheal TD. In 1926 she was elected a vice-president of the party, and was the only female member of the Dáil between September 1927 and February 1932.[2]
She was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for the Dublin North constituency at the 1923 general election.[4] Socially conversative, she voted in favour of the 1928 Censorship of Publications bill, which banned indecent literature and publications that referred to birth control; and she voted with the government in favour of the 1924 and 1927 juries bills, which restricted jury service for women.[2]
She was re-elected at each subsequent election until she lost her seat at the 1933 general election.[5]
Family edit
She married Patrick O'Driscoll on 8 September 1901 at Rosscarbery's Roman Catholic chapel in County Cork. The couple had 14 children: five sons and nine daughters.[2]
Actress Dervla Kirwan is a great-granddaughter of the O'Driscolls.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Births registered in the District of Rosscarbery in the Union of Clonakilty" (PDF). IrishGenealogy.ie. October 1876. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Coleman, Marie. "O'Driscoll, Margaret Collins-". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll". Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics (QUB). Retrieved 22 September 2008.
- ^ "Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Dervla Kirwan | Who Do You Think You Are? | Ancestry.co.uk". www.ancestry.co.uk.