Theresa Ahearn

Theresa Ahearn (1 May 1951 – 20 September 2000) was an Irish Fine Gael party politician who was elected three times to Dáil Éireann and died in office.

Born, Theresa Scott, in Golden, County Tipperary, Ahearn lived with her husband Liam and family on the family farm near Clonmel. Her first elected office was as a member of Tipperary South Riding County Council from 1983 until 1999. Noted as a highly effective orator [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=279283&issue_id=3021] , she was elected to the 26th Dáil as a TD for Tipperary South in the 1989 general election, becoming the only female Fine Gael deputy representing a rural constituency in the Dáil. [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=279246&issue_id=3021] She was re-elected at the 1992 election and the 1997 election.

In Dáil Éireann, she was appointed as a Fine Gael spokesperson on Labour in 1992, and from 1992–1993 on Energy. She was the spokesperson on Women's Affairs and Chairperson of Oireachtas Committee on Women's Rights 1993–1995.

She had been the Fine Gael Junior spokesperson on Equality and Disability since September 1997. Ahearn was a member of the Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, and of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Ahearn died of cancer on 20 September 2000 at Dublin's Mount Carmel Hospital, after a long illness, and was survived by her husband Liam and four sons. [http://wwa.rte.ie/news/2000/0920/ahearn.html] Her funeral was held on 23 September in Clonmel. [http://wwa.rte.ie/news/2000/0923/ahearn.html]

At he time of her death she was both a member of Fine Gael's National Executive Committee, and the first-ever female trustee of the party. [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=279246&issue_id=3021]

In the by-election after death, her Dáil seat in Tipperary South was retained for Fine Gael by Tom Hayes of Kilfeakle. She was the second TD in that constituency to die in the year 2000, Labour's Michael Ferris having died on 21 March.

References

* [http://electionsireland.org/news/2000/theresaahearn.cfm Theresa Ahearn TD dies after a long illness] (Elections Ireland.org, 2000-09-20)
* [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=279246&issue_id=3021 Tricolour at half mast as parties pay their tributes] (Irish Independent, 2000-09-21)
* [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=279283&issue_id=3021 Mourning as Tipp TD loses last battle] (Irish Independent, 2000-09-21)
* [http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2000/09/21/current/ipage_24.htm Tributes to Theresa Ahearn’s hard work and dignity] (Irish Examiner, 2000-09-21)