Carmel Hanna facts for kids

Carmel Hanna (born Carmel McAleenan; 26 April 1946) is an Irish politician. She was born in Warrenpoint, County Down, Northern Ireland. Carmel Hanna is a member of the SDLP. She served as a MLA for South Belfast from 1998 to 2010.

About Carmel Hanna

Early Life and Nursing

Carmel McAleenan was the seventh of nine children. Her father worked in a local packaging factory. She went to primary school in Warrenpoint. Later, she attended Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry.

In 1964, Carmel moved to Belfast to train as a nurse. She became a Registered Nurse in 1967. In 1970, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife. She worked in hospitals across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain, and other parts of Europe.

After living and working abroad, she returned to Northern Ireland. She worked as a staff nurse at the Mater Hospital in Belfast. This was during a difficult time known as the Troubles. Her experiences there made her believe strongly in peaceful political change. She also took part in the Civil Rights Campaign in the early 1970s.

Carmel married Eamon Hanna in 1973. They have four adult children. They have lived in Belfast, Dublin, Galway, and the United States. In 1987, Carmel went back to nursing. She later worked in social services, helping to arrange care for older people. She also became an officer for her trade union, NIPSA.

Political Journey

Carmel Hanna joined the SDLP political party in 1972. For many years, she was a regular member. She also helped lead SDLP support groups in Galway and Dublin. In 1996, she became the chairperson of her local party branch. That same year, she ran for a seat on the Belfast City Council. She also ran in the Northern Ireland Forum elections.

In 1997, she was elected to Belfast City Council. She represented the Balmoral area. On the council, she worked on planning, health, and cultural issues. In June 1998, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

From 1998 to 2001, Carmel Hanna was the Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee. In December 2001, she became the Minister of Employment and Learning. Her time as a minister ended in October 2002. This happened when the Northern Ireland Assembly was temporarily stopped due to a political disagreement.

Carmel Hanna started and led a group in the Assembly focused on international development. After leaving the Assembly in 2010, she worked with Voluntary Service Overseas in Namibia. She also pushed for an inquiry into past issues in homes in Northern Ireland. Her motion was approved, leading to the Hart Inquiry.

Her main political goals included:

• Protecting and improving the look of South Belfast.
• Making health, education, and social services better.
• Keeping maternity services at the Jubilee hospital.
• Working on fairness in society and cultural matters.
• Helping everyone feel included in society.

Later Life and Recognition

Carmel Hanna was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000. She resigned as an MLA on 18 January 2010 due to health reasons. In 2010, she received a Lifetime Achievement award. This was from the Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland. The award was for her dedication to nursing. For many years, she was the only registered nurse serving in the Assembly. Conall McDevitt took her place in the Assembly.

Mark Durkan, the leader of the SDLP, praised Carmel Hanna. He said she served her community and Northern Ireland with dignity and dedication.

Carmel Hanna is the mother of Claire Hanna. Claire Hanna also became an SDLP Belfast City councillor in 2011. She served as an SDLP MLA for Belfast South from 2015 to 2019. In 2019, Claire Hanna was elected to represent Belfast South in the UK Parliament.