Tras Honan Explained

Office:Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Term Start:25 April 1987
Term End:1 November 1989
Predecessor:Patrick J. Reynolds
Successor:Seán Doherty
Term Start1:13 May 1982
Term End1:23 February 1983
Predecessor1:Charles McDonald
Successor1:Patrick J. Reynolds
Office2:Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Term Start2:9 March 1983
Term End2:25 April 1987
Predecessor2:Charles McDonald
Successor2:Charles McDonald
Office3:Senator
Term Start3:27 October 1977
Term End3:17 February 1993
Constituency3:Administrative Panel
Birth Name:Tras Barlow
Birth Date:4 January 1930
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Death Place:Waterford, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fianna Fáil
Children:2

Tras Honan (; 4 January 1930 – 25 November 2023) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 1982 to 1983, and 1987 to 1992, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 1983 to 1987, and as a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 1977 to 1992. Honan was the first woman and to date the only woman to have held the position of Cathaoirleach (Chair) in the upper house of the Oireachtas.[1]

Life and career

Tras Barlow was born in Dublin on 4 January 1930. She was educated at St. Leo's Convent, Carlow and at the Mercy Convent, Clonmel, County Tipperary. She worked as a housewife and businesswoman before becoming active in politics.

In 1977, she was elected to the 14th Seanad as a Fianna Fáil Senator for the Administrative Panel and served for 15 years[1] until her defeat at the 1993 elections to the 20th Seanad.[2]

In 1982, in the short-lived 16th Seanad, she was elected to the position of Cathaoirleach, the first woman to hold the post. In 1983, in the 17th Seanad, she was elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach (Deputy chair), and in 1987, in the 18th Seanad, she was re-elected as Cathaoirleach.

Family

In 1960, she married Dermot Honan; who was a senator from 1965 to 1975. His father T. V. Honan was also a senator from 1934 to 1954. She was also a sister of Carrie Acheson, a TD.

Tras Honan died on 25 November 2023, at the age of 93.[3] [4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tras Honan. Oireachtas Members Database. 31 January 2008. 8 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184831/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Tras-Honan.S.1977-10-27. live.
  2. Web site: Tras Honan. ElectionsIreland.org. 31 January 2008. 16 January 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070116113139/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3847. live.
  3. Web site: Former Seanad Cathaoirleach Tras Honan dies aged 93. RTÉ News. 26 November 2023. 27 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Death notice of Tras Honan. RIP.ie. 26 November 2023. 27 November 2023.