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Marie-Louise O'Donnell
Marie-Louise O'Donnell.jpg
Senator
In office
25 May 2011 – 29 June 2020
Constituency Nominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born (1952-09-05) 5 September 1952 (age 72)
Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland
Political party Independent
Children 1
Alma mater

Marie-Louise O'Donnell was born on September 5, 1952. She is an Irish academic, a broadcaster, and a politician. She was a Senator (like a member of a country's parliament) from 2011 to 2020. She was chosen for this role by the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister). Marie-Louise also helped a lot with arts and culture at Dublin City University for 23 years, including opening a big arts center called The Helix.

Early Life and Learning

Marie-Louise O'Donnell grew up in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland. Her father, Frank O'Donnell, worked at the Foxford Woolen Mills. Her mother, Maire Cranny, was a speech and drama teacher. Even though her family moved to Dublin, Marie-Louise and her brother spent holidays in Mayo.

Her Education Journey

Marie-Louise studied education and English at the University of Nottingham. She then earned two master's degrees. One was in Education from NUI Maynooth. The other was in Modern Drama from University College Dublin. Later, she studied theatre, acting, and voice skills in London. She attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Her Career Path

Marie-Louise O'Donnell has had an interesting career. She worked in education, the arts, and media. She also became a politician.

Teaching and the Arts

Marie-Louise first led the drama department at Carysfort College. She taught there for ten years. In 1988, she became a lecturer at Dublin City University (DCU). For 23 years at DCU, she taught many subjects. These included making radio documentaries, storytelling, and public speaking. She even trained at the BBC for radio work.

She also helped grow the arts at DCU. She organized events like DCU Arts Week. She also worked on concerts and theatre shows. A big part of her work was helping to create The Helix. This is a major cultural center at DCU. When The Helix opened, she became an associate director. She also managed one of its theatre spaces.

Marie-Louise has given many talks in Ireland, Europe, and the US. These talks were about education and Irish culture. She also acted in plays for six months. She performed in The Merry Wives of Windsor and King John.

She was on the board of the National Concert Hall for two terms. In 2004, she helped start a theatre company. It was called Classic Stage Ireland. This company put on plays by Shakespeare and ancient Greek writers.

Working in Media

Marie-Louise became well-known in media in 2010. She was a reporter for a radio show called Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1. She had trained in radio production with the BBC. She also presented shows for BBC Radio 4. Many people knew her and considered her a friend.

Becoming a Politician

In May 2011, the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister), Enda Kenny, chose Marie-Louise O'Donnell to be a Senator. This was a surprise to her. She did not join any political party. Enda Kenny chose her again in May 2016 for another term. She led a group of independent senators for a short time.

Recent Activities

After her time as a Senator, Marie-Louise continued her work. She appeared on a TV show called Tonight with Vincent Browne. She often discussed the next day's newspapers. She was known for strongly supporting Enda Kenny. In March 2018, she said that teenagers under 18 should "stay away from politics."

In 2009, Marie-Louise started studying for her PhD. She focused on university teaching. This was at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, which is now part of DCU.

Personal Life

Marie-Louise O'Donnell has one son.

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