Kate O'Connell
Kate O'Connell | |
|---|---|
 O'Connell in 2014 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2016 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Bay South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katherine Newman[1] 3 January 1980 Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse(s) | Morgan O'Connell (m. 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Brighton |
Kate O'Connell (née Newman; born 3 January 1980) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay South constituency from 2016 to 2020.[2]
Background[]
O'Connell is from Kilbeggan, County Westmeath. From 1999 to 2003, she studied to be a pharmacist at the University of Brighton, graduating as an M Pharm in the United Kingdom.[3] She then worked as a hospital pre-registrar in the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, before returning to Ireland to practice as a locum-pharmacist.[3] By 2006, O'Connell and her husband opened up their first pharmacy in Sandyford, and later opened up pharmacies in Rathgar, and Rathfarnham.[3]
Political career[]
O'Connell was a member of Dublin City Council from 2014 to 2016.[4][5] She left that position upon successfully winning a seat in Dublin Bay South in the 2016 general election. She lost her seat at the 2020 general election.[6]
On 7 May 2021, O'Connell declared she would not seek to be the Fine Gael candidate for the 2021 Dublin Bay South by-election. O'Connell suggested she would not be able to win a party selection again due to her relationship with the Fine Gael leadership souring in the meantime, partially because of her vocal support of Simon Coveney over Leo Varadkar (who went on to win) in the 2017 Fine Gael leadership election. O'Connell also suggested many local Fine Gael branch members in Dublin South Bay regarded her as an outsider and a "parachute candidate" due to the fact she is originally from County Westmeath, and had turned against her over this.[7][8]
References[]
- ^ "O'Connell's sister aiming to become the third family member in Leinster House". Irish Independent. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Kate O'Connell". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "Kate O'Connell talks challenges facing Irish healthcare". Irish Pharmacist News (IPN). Vol. 9 no. 10. January 2017. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Kate O'Connell". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Election 2016: Kate O'Connell". RTÉ News. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ Cullen, Paul (10 February 2020). "Dublin Bay South results: Andrews says tent incident influenced voters". Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Kate O'Connell will not run in Dublin Bay South by-election as Fine Gael leadership doesn't want her". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ McGee, Harry (7 May 2021). "Kate O'Connell ruled out of byelection due to 'lack of leadership support'". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
 | This article about a Fine Gael politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
 | This article about a Teachta Dála (TD) – a member of Dáil Éireann – is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- 1980 births
- Living people
- Members of the 32nd Dáil
- 21st-century women Teachtaí Dála
- Fine Gael TDs
- Irish pharmacists
- Local councillors in Dublin (city)
- Alumni of the University of Brighton
- 21st-century Irish businesspeople
- People from Kilbeggan
- Politicians from County Westmeath
- Fine Gael politician stubs
- Teachta Dála stubs