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16 Facts About Monica Barnes

1.

Monica Barnes was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dala for the Dun Laoghaire constituency from 1982 to 1992 and 1997 to 2002.

2.

Monica Barnes was a Senator for the Labour Panel from February 1982 to November 1982 and a Member of the Council of State from 1991 to 1995.

3.

Monica Barnes was a feminist and women's right activist who co-founded the Council for the Status of Women.

4.

Monica Barnes's father was a trade unionist who worked at the Gypsum Industries Factory in Kingscourt, County Cavan.

5.

Monica Barnes was educated at the Louis Convent, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, a boarding school to which she won a county council scholarship.

6.

Monica Barnes failed the Leaving Certificate Mathematics exam, which meant she could not progress to university.

7.

Monica Barnes worked in London as a clerk in the London Stock Exchange.

8.

Monica Barnes was told by her doctor to "pull yourself together".

9.

In 1975, Monica Barnes founded and was chairwoman of Woman Elect, an organisation to encourage and support women to stand for election.

10.

Monica Barnes unsuccessfully contested the 1981 general election in the Dun Laoghaire constituency, and after a further defeat at the February 1982 general election she was elected to the 16th Seanad as a Senator for the Labour Panel.

11.

Monica Barnes unsuccessfully contested the European Parliament election for the Leinster constituency in 1979 and 1994.

12.

Monica Barnes was first elected to Dail Eireann at the November 1982 general election.

13.

Monica Barnes retained her seat until the 1992 general election and was re-elected at the 1997 general election.

14.

Monica Barnes was credited as a feminist and an advocate of women's rights.

15.

Monica Barnes was seen as having made a critical intervention that led to the passing of the Health Bill 1985, which gave Irish adults the right to purchase non-medical contraceptives without having to get a doctor's prescription, which passed the Dail by a margin of 82 to 79.

16.

Monica Barnes died on 2 May 2018 at her home in Glenageary, County Dublin aged 82.