Carol Nolan Explained

Office:Teachta Dála
Term Start:February 2020
Constituency:Laois–Offaly
Term Start1:February 2016
Term End1:February 2020
Constituency1:Offaly
Birth Date:23 May 1978
Birth Place:Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Independent
Children:2

Carol Nolan (born 23 May 1978) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency since the 2020 general election, and previously from 2016 to 2020 for the Offaly constituency.

Early and personal life

Nolan was born in Tullamore in 1978, but she is a native of Cadamstown, County Offaly. Nolan was educated at Mary Immaculate College and NUI Galway. She was a primary school teacher for 12 years.[1] Nolan was also principal of Gaelscoil Thromaire in County Laois for three years.[2]

Political career

Before becoming a TD, she was a Sinn Féin member of Offaly County Council from 2014 to 2016, for the Birr local electoral ward.[3]

In March 2018, she was suspended from Sinn Féin for three months for voting against legislation to allow for a referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, support for which had been adopted at the party's Ard Fheis.[4]

She endorsed the Cherish all the Children Equally campaign which advocated for a No vote in the 2018 abortion referendum.[5] She campaigned for the Love Both campaign which also advocated for a No vote in the referendum.

She resigned from Sinn Féin on 19 June 2018, over the party's stance on abortion, saying "“I won’t be supporting the legislation as my position remains the same, as a pro-life TD who is strongly opposed to abortion".[6] [7]

She was re-elected as an Independent TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency following the 2020 general election.[8] Nolan is a member of the Rural Group of Independent TDs in the 33rd Dail.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Profile: Carol Nolan (SF). The Irish Times. 28 February 2016.
  2. Web site: About Me. Carol Nolan TD. en-US. 2020-04-26.
  3. Web site: Carol Nolan. ElectionsIreland.org. 12 May 2019.
  4. News: Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan suspended after voting against abortion referendum. 26 March 2018. Journal.ie.
  5. News: Republicans Supporting Cherish. 2 July 2013. Cherish all the Children Equally. 29 April 2018. 3 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803084830/https://cherishthechildren.ie/pages/republicans-supporting-cherish. dead.
  6. News: McCormack . Jayne . Carol Nolan resigns from Sinn Féin over abortion stance . 19 June 2018 . BBC News.
  7. News: Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan says she will not vote for abortion law. The Irish Times. 16 November 2018.
  8. Web site: Carol Nolan. Oireachtas Members Database. 12 May 2019.
  9. Web site: Laois-Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan joins new political group. Laois Today. 13 February 2020.