Violet-Anne Wynne

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Violet-Anne Wynne
TD
Violet-Anne Wynne 2020.jpg
Wynne in 2020
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyClare
Personal details
Born1988 (age 33–34)[1]
Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partySinn Féin
Children5
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Violet-Anne Wynne (born 1988) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency since the 2020 general election.[2] She is a former member of the Reserve Defence Forces, having been involved for three years. She has worked as a home help provider for young adults with disabilities, a literacy tutor, and for the crime victims helpline.[3]

Early life and education[]

Wynne is from Tullamore, County Offaly.[4] She attended St Colman's National School nearby and the Coláiste Muire in Blakestown.[5] She studied Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. She is a Protestant and member of the Church of Ireland.[6][7]

Political career[]

Wynne ran for the position of councillor in Clare County Council during the May 2019 local elections. She placed 8th out 9 candidates in her local election area of Kilrush, securing 4% of the first preference vote. In 2020, she was chosen by Sinn Féin local branches in Clare to stand for Sinn Féin in the 2020 general election. She had been the local party members' third choice for a candidate, gaining the nomination after their first choice, Councillor Mike McKee, fell ill and died, and their second choice, Noeleen Moran, withdrew from the nomination process after she felt the local branch had not been prompt enough in convening.[8] Wynne had been considered to be a paper candidate in an election Sinn Féin initially did not expect to gain seats in,[9] however, she came second in her constituency with 15% of the first preference vote following a surge in Sinn Féin popularity during the election campaign.[10]

Rent arrears[]

Following her election victory, an Irish charity came forward claiming that Wynne had refused to pay any rent for a period of four years and they instead had covered the cost, believing they would be eventually repaid. The charity itself, Rural Resettlement Ireland, closed down but its operators suggested she should give the owed amount, €12,000 to another charity. She subsequently agreed to do so.[11][12]

Vaccines[]

Also following her election, Philip Ryan suggesting that Wynne previously proposed some vaccine hesitancy views.[13] The Sinn Féin press office said Wynne's comments were "old remarks" which did not "reflect Sinn Féin policy".[13]

Social media conduct[]

In April 2020, Wynne was criticised for her conduct on social media by some of her constituents after she referred to Clare TD Pat Breen and former Clare TD (now Senator) Timmy Dooley as "Prat Breen" and "Timmy Do Nothing". She was also accused of belittling constituents who asked questions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesperson representing Sinn Féin in County Clare referred to her behaviour as "A prime example why the party's social media guidelines should be followed at all times on social media platforms." Following the criticisms, Wynne issued a formal apology, stating "I understand that a number of remarks I made on Facebook recently have caused offence. I want to apologise for this and to those involved".[14][15]

Personal life[]

Wynne met her husband while she was living in Blanchardstown, Dublin. In 2011, the couple decided to settle in Kilrush, County Clare with their five children under the Rural Settlement Scheme when he developed health issues that required a slower paced lifestyle.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ Tim Ryan (2020). Nealon's Guide to the 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad and the 2019 Local and European Elections. Grand Canal Publishing.
  2. ^ "Violet-Anne Wynne". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Violet-Anne Wynne". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Offaly native elected for SF in Clare". Offaly Independent. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ^ McMahon, Páraic (7 February 2020). "'People see us as the alternative' – Sinn Féin's Violet-Anne hopeful for GE2020". Clare Echo. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. ^ "West Clare Sinn Féin member Violet Anne Wynne discusses her Protestant roots". Clare.fm. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Clare TD was among targets of Harris trolling". Clare Champion. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ "SF choose Clare General Election candidate". Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ Holly, Stuart (16 February 2020). "Wynner alright: Violet-Anne's election shocks political followers". Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. ^ O'Leary, Naomi (3 March 2020). "Why Sinn Féin is surging in the Irish election". Politico. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  11. ^ McQuinn, Cormac. "TD says she'll pay €12,000 in rent arrears to charity". Irish Independent. No. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  12. ^ Danaher, Dan (15 February 2020). "Sinn Féin TD willing to pay €12,000 rent arrears to charity". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ^ a b Ryan, Philip (13 February 2020). "Sinn Féin TD made attack on the HPV vaccine". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  14. ^ McMahon, Páraic (11 April 2020). "'I understand my remarks caused offence' – Violet-Anne issues apology". The Clare Echo. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Wynne Issues Apology After Controversial Facebook Remarks". clare.fm. 11 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  16. ^ "General Election 2020: Sinn Féin candidate Violet-Anne Wynne". Independent.ie. 3 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.

External links[]

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