Carál Ní Chuilín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carál Ní Chuilín
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
| Assumed office 6 February 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Christopher Stalford |
| Minister for Communities | |
| In office 15 June 2020 – 16 December 2020 |
|
| First Minister | Arlene Foster |
| Preceded by | Deirdre Hargey |
| Succeeded by | Deirdre Hargey |
| Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure | |
| In office 5 May 2011 – 6 May 2016 |
|
| First Minister | Peter Robinson Arlene Foster |
| Preceded by | Nelson McCausland |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast North |
|
| Assumed office 7 March 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Kathy Stanton |
| Member of Belfast City Council |
|
| In office 5 May 2005 – 7 March 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Eoin Ó Broin |
| Succeeded by | Conor Maskey |
| Constituency | Oldpark |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Caroline Cullen
18 December 1964 New Lodge, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Gerard Magee |
| Residences | New Lodge, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Alma mater | Open University Queen's University Belfast |
Carál Ní Chuilín is a politician from Northern Ireland. She was born on December 18, 1964, and her original name was Caroline Cullen. She is a member of the Sinn Féin political party.
Since February 2024, Carál Ní Chuilín has been the Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. This means she helps lead meetings in the Assembly. She has also been a MLA for Belfast North since 2007.
She has held important roles in the Northern Ireland government. From 2011 to 2016, she was the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. In 2020, she also served as Minister for Communities for a short time.
Contents
About Carál Ní Chuilín
Early Life and Education
Carál Ní Chuilín grew up in the New Lodge area of Belfast. She studied hard and earned a degree in Social Studies from the Open University in 1994. Later, she continued her education and received a master's degree in Management from Queen's University Belfast.
Early Political Career
Before becoming an MLA, Carál Ní Chuilín was active in local politics. From 2005 to 2007, she represented the Oldpark area on the Belfast City Council. She worked to help people in her local community.
Work in the Assembly
Becoming an MLA
Carál Ní Chuilín was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, representing North Belfast. She was re-elected in 2011, 2016, 2017, and 2022, showing her dedication to serving her community.
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure
In May 2011, Carál Ní Chuilín was chosen by the Assembly to become the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. In this role, she was responsible for promoting and supporting culture, arts, and sports across Northern Ireland.
- Supporting Sports: As Minister, she showed her support for sports. For example, she attended a Northern Ireland football team match in August 2011. She also announced a £3 million investment program in August 2012 to improve boxing facilities in Northern Ireland. She believed that sports clubs needed good places to train.
- Promoting Irish Language: In September 2011, her Department started a project called Líofa 2015. This project encouraged people in Northern Ireland to learn and speak the Irish language. Many people took part, including police officers, who wanted to become fluent in Irish by 2015.
Minister for Communities
In June 2020, Carál Ní Chuilín was appointed Minister for Communities for a temporary period. In this role, she helped manage services that support communities, like housing, social welfare, and sports.
Principal Deputy Speaker
Since February 2024, Carál Ní Chuilín has served as the Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In this important role, she helps the Speaker manage debates and ensure that the Assembly's rules are followed. She plays a key part in the daily workings of the Northern Ireland government.
