24 Facts About Claire Hanna

Claire Hanna has served as Member of Parliament for Belfast South and Mid Down since 2019.

Claire Aisling Hanna was born on 19 June 1980 in Galway, Ireland, to parents Carmel Hanna and Eamon Hanna, with two sisters and a brother.

Eamon Claire Hanna is a former general secretary of the SDLP.

Claire Hanna has lived in south Belfast since the age of three.

Claire Hanna holds a Bachelor of Science honours degree in International Relations from the Open University and a master's degree in law from Queen's University Belfast.

Claire Hanna was a campaigns officer for Concern Worldwide from 2005 to 2015.

Claire Hanna was elected to Belfast City Council in 2011, representing the Balmoral ward, winning re-election in 2014.

Claire Hanna remained in this role until becoming an MLA in June 2015.

Claire Hanna successfully brought forward a motion to make Belfast City Council the first Living Wage local authority on the island, as well as securing all-party support for her proposal to award the Freedom of Belfast to poet Michael Longley.

Claire Hanna initiated a campaign to name the new Greenway bridge after playwright and trade unionist Sam Thompson.

Claire Hanna was replaced by her husband Donal Lyons on Belfast City Council.

Claire Hanna was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in June 2015, representing Belfast South, the same constituency in which her mother had previously been elected.

Claire Hanna served as vice chair of the Finance Committee, as well as on the Public Accounts Committee and the Environment Committees and chaired the Assembly All Party Groups on International Development and the Arts.

Claire Hanna was the first member of the SDLP to express concern about the decision of SDLP Newry councillors to vote to name a play park after IRA hunger striker Raymond McCreesh.

Claire Hanna's home was attacked in the midst of flag protests in the area.

In February 2019, Claire Hanna resigned the SDLP party whip in protest after the party agreed to form an electoral alliance with Fianna Fail, stating that she would "never become a Fianna Fail MLA".

Claire Hanna had herself been more closely associated with the Irish Labour Party and Fine Gael, and had canvassed in support of them in the past.

Claire Hanna was elected as the Member of Parliament for Belfast South at the 2019 general election, defeating DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly.

Claire Hanna caused controversy when she affirmed allegiance to the Queen, and then lodged a "respectful protest" against her pledge the following day.

Claire Hanna was re-elected to the successor constituency of Belfast South and Mid Down at the 2024 general election with a decreased majority.

Claire Hanna was elected the seventh leader of the SDLP, taking over from Colum Eastwood in 2024 following an uncontested leadership election.

In March 2025, Claire Hanna spoke Irish for the first time during Prime Minister's Questions to mark Saint Patrick's Day and Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Claire Hanna married Belfast SDLP councillor Donal Lyons in 2011; the couple have three daughters.

Claire Hanna has spoken of the importance of the arts as "facilitating human connection and our understanding of ourselves" and how, in Northern Ireland, the arts and arts venues are important shared spaces.