Tras Honan (; born 4 January 1930) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician from

Ennis Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...

in County Clare who served as a

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for 15 years. She was elected to the position of Cathaoirleach (Chair of Seanad Éireann) on two occasions, becoming the first and only woman elected to the position. She was born in Dublin and educated at St. Leo's Convent,

Carlow Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2016 census, it had a combined urban and rural population of 24,272. The River Barrow flows through the town and forms the historic bounda ...

and at the Mercy Convent,

Clonmel Clonmel () is the county town and largest settlement of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Cromwellian army which sacked the towns of Dro ...

. She worked as a housewife and businesswoman before becoming active in politics. In 1977, she was elected to the

14th Seanad This is a list of the members of the 14th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1977, after the 1977 general election and served until the close of poll for the ...

as a Fianna Fáil candidate on the Administrative Panel and served for 15 years until her defeat at the 1993 elections to the 20th Seanad. In 1982, in the short-lived

16th Seanad This is a list of the members of the 16th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1982, after the February 1982 general election and served until the close of poll ...

, 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 This is a list of the members of the 18th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1987, after the 1987 general election and served until the close of poll for the ...

, she was re-elected as Cathaoirleach.

Family

Honan is the widow of Dermot Honan, 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Honan, Tras 1930 births Living people Cathaoirligh of Seanad Éireann Fianna Fáil senators Members of the 14th Seanad Members of the 15th Seanad Members of the 16th Seanad Members of the 17th Seanad Members of the 18th Seanad Members of the 19th Seanad 20th-century women members of Seanad Éireann People from Ennis Politicians from County Clare Politicians from County Dublin Spouses of Irish politicians

Family

See also

References