14 Facts About Deirdre Clune

Deirdre Clune is an Irish politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament from Ireland for the South constituency from 2014 to 2019, and again from 2020 to 2024.

Deirdre Clune is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party.

Deirdre Clune previously served as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel from 2011 to 2014, a Teachta Dala for the Cork South-Central constituency from 1997 to 2002 and 2007 to 2011 and Lord Mayor of Cork from 2005 to 2006.

Deirdre Clune completed a diploma in Management Engineering at Trinity College Dublin in 1983 and returned to UCC in 1996 to complete her HDip in Environmental Engineering.

Deirdre Clune was first elected to Dail Eireann at the 1997 general election succeeding her father, Peter Barry who was retiring.

Deirdre Clune lost her seat at the 2002 general election.

Deirdre Clune contested the 2002 elections to the 22nd Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, but was unsuccessful.

Deirdre Clune was a member of Cork City Council from 1999 to 2007 and became the 68th Lord Mayor of Cork on 27 June 2005.

Deirdre Clune regained her Dail seat at the 2007 general election.

Deirdre Clune was appointed deputy spokesperson on Enterprise with special responsibility for Innovation from 2007 to 2010.

Deirdre Clune lost her seat at the 2011 general election to party colleague Jerry Buttimer.

Deirdre Clune was elected to Seanad Eireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel in April 2011, where she served as Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.

Deirdre Clune was re-elected at the 2019 European Parliament election for South but took the fifth and final Brexit seat, so she did not take her seat until after the United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020.

On 15 November 2023, Deirdre Clune announced that she would not contest the 2024 European Parliament election.