Fionnuala Bríd Kenny (; born 1 March 1956) is an Irish
public relations specialist who is the wife of former
Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She is a former
press officer for the
Fianna Fáil Party.
In March 1987, Kenny became the first woman to head the Irish Government Information Service, a position she held until 1990.
[ She then served as the head of public affairs at ]Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidi (; ; also written Ragdi; born August, 1938) is a Tibetan politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 2003 to 2008, and the highest ranking Tibeta ...
(RTÉ), beginning in 1990.[ She has been described by the media as Kenny's "best asset" and his "secret weapon."]civil servant
The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...
s, was born Fionnuala O'Kelly in 1956, in Clontarf, Dublin.[ She was educated at St Louis College (St Louis Secondary School) in County Monaghan. She then studied ]French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
and German, at University College Dublin.[ O'Kelly received her master's degree in French from Nancy-Université in Nancy, France.][
Once she returned to Ireland, she enrolled in a public relations course which was offered by AnCo, an agency which later became part of the present-day Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS).][ O'Kelly applied for a public relations position, which was advertised in a newspaper for a "national organisation." She only discovered that the organisation mentioned in the employment ad was Fianna Fáil, one of Ireland's two major political parties, once she had been offered a job interview.][ She won the job, despite an intimidating encounter with Charles Haughey during the interview, and became Fianna Fáil's press officer at Leinster House.][ She worked under Haughey, the Leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach from 1979 to 1981, 1982, and 1987 to 1992, for much of the next decade.][ O'Kelly put together the photographs published in "The Spirit of the Nation: the Speeches and Statements of Charles J Haughey (1957-86)," a book edited by Martin Mansergh.][
Charles Haughey regained his position as Taoiseach in ]1987
File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...
. In March 1987, Fionnuala O'Kelly was appointed the head the Government Information Service, becoming the first woman to lead the agency.[
On the first day of the ]31st Dáil
31 (thirty-one) is the natural number following 30 and preceding 32. It is a prime number.
In mathematics
31 is the 11th prime number. It is a superprime and a self prime (after 3, 5, and 7), as no integer added up to its base 10 digits ...
on 9 March 2011, Fianna Fáil leader
''Fianna'' ( , ; singular ''Fian''; gd, Fèinne ) were small warrior-hunter bands in Gaelic Ireland during the Iron Age and early Middle Ages. A ''fian'' was made up of freeborn young males, often aristocrats, "who had left fosterage but ha ...
Micheál Martin sent his regards to her in the chamber after her husband was elected Taoiseach. Enda Kenny responded, "Were she still with you today, you might be in a much stronger position today."As it happened: Enda Kenny’s appointment as Taoiseach
- 13:57 and 13:59
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenny, Fionnuala
1956 births
Living people
Alumni of University College Dublin
Charles Haughey
Fionnuala
Irish public relations people
Kenny family
Nancy-Université alumni
People from Dublin (city)
RTÉ people
Spouses and partners of Taoisigh