Irene Calvert facts for kids

Irene Calvert (born February 10, 1909 – died May 19, 2000) was an important person from Northern Ireland. She was a politician and an economist. This means she helped make laws and studied how money and resources work in a country. She was a Member of Parliament for Queen's University Belfast. This role meant she represented people from that area in the government.

Irene Calvert's Early Life and School

Irene Calvert was born in Belfast. Her full name was Lilian Irene Mercer Earls. She went to Methodist College Belfast for her schooling. However, she could not take her final exams. This was due to some health problems she had at the time.

After school, at 18, she worked in different shops for a few years. Later, from 1933 to 1936, she went to Queen's University Belfast. There, she studied economics and philosophy.

Irene Calvert's Career in Public Service

In 1941, Irene got a big job. She became the Chief Welfare Officer for Northern Ireland. Her first task was to help many people who were moved from their homes. These were people evacuated during wartime, including some from Gibraltar.

Becoming a Politician

Irene became interested in politics after her welfare work. In 1944, she was asked to run in an election. People wanted a woman's voice in the government. She tried to win a seat for the Queen's University Belfast area. She did not win that time.

But she tried again in the 1945 Northern Ireland general election. This time, she ran as an independent candidate. This means she did not belong to a specific political party. She won a seat and became a Member of Parliament. She kept this job until 1953, when she decided not to run again.

Focus on Social Reform

While in Parliament, Irene Calvert focused on making life better for people. She believed that social reform was very important. She helped pass the Education Act in 1947. This law improved schooling for children. She thought that arguments about the country's borders were a distraction. However, when she left Parliament, she did wonder if Northern Ireland's economy could grow. She questioned this as long as the country remained divided.

Work in Business and Other Roles

In 1950, Irene started working at the Ulster Weaving Company. She used her knowledge of economics there. She helped the company sell more products to other businesses. Because of her success, she became a managing director.

In 1956, she was invited to lead a group at a special conference. This conference was about industry and was led by the Duke of Edinburgh. She also worked with the Belfast City Chamber of Commerce. This group helps businesses in the city. In 1965 and 1966, she became its first woman president. She also served on important boards at Queen's University. She was also active in The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations. This group promotes understanding between different parts of Ireland.

In 1964, she took on a new role. She became an executive manager for Great Southern Hotels. She also worked for the Irish railway catering company. These were part of CIÉ, a state-owned transport company. She worked there until 1970. Later that year, she briefly managed households for Doris Duke. Irene then retired to Dublin. She continued to support the Irish Labour Party even into her eighties.

Irene Calvert's Personal Life

Irene Calvert married Raymond Colville Calvert. They met in 1926 at a university drama club. Raymond was a stockbroker and also a writer. He wrote poems, ballads, and radio plays. He passed away suddenly on July 11, 1959. They had a son named Peter. Peter was with his mother when she died. Irene Calvert passed away at the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook on May 19, 2000.