Mary Finan facts for kids

Mary Finan (born 2 August 1944) is an Irish businesswoman. She is well-known for her work in public relations. Mary made history as the first woman to lead the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. She also served as the last chairperson of the RTÉ Authority, which oversaw public broadcasting in Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Mary Finan was born on 2 August 1944 in Loughglynn, a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. She was the oldest of seven children. Her father, John Finan, was a local politician who served as a TD (a member of the Irish parliament) and a Senator.

In 1951, when Mary was young, her family moved to Dublin. They lived first in Ballsbridge and later in Rathgar. Mary attended St Louis school in Rathmines. After school, she went on to study French and English at University College Dublin (UCD).

Mary earned her degree in 1966. She then worked as a presenter for RTÉ television for three years. She later completed a master's degree at UCD. After her studies, she began working in advertising. She first joined Kenny's Advertising and later moved to Peter Owens advertising in 1968.

On 1 January 1972, Mary married Geoff Mackechnie. They have one daughter named Victoria, who was born in 1980.

A Career in Business and Public Relations

Mary Finan has had a very successful career in business and public relations. In 1983, she became the managing director of Wilson Hartnell Public Relations. She had started working with the company in 1971.

In 1996, Mary achieved a significant milestone. She became the first woman to serve as the president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. This organization supports businesses in Dublin.

By 1999, Mary was also the deputy chair of the Ogilvy & Mather Group. This is a large advertising and public relations company.

Leading Important Organizations

Mary Finan has held many important roles in various organizations. She was a council member of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. This group helped develop the docklands area of Dublin.

From 2003, she chaired the Economic and Social Research Institute. She had been a council member there since 1996. This institute conducts research on economic and social issues in Ireland.

Mary has also served as a director for many different companies and institutions. These include:

• Canada Life Assurance (Ireland)
• The Gate Theatre (a famous theatre in Dublin)
• The Automobile Association
• ICS Building Society
• The Dublin City University Educational Trust
• The UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies
• The Irish Chamber Orchestra
• Opera Ireland
• The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig
• The Cheshire Foundation
• The Buildings of Ireland Charitable Trust

From 2006, Mary Finan was the last chairperson of the RTÉ Authority. This body was responsible for overseeing RTÉ, Ireland's public broadcaster. The authority was later changed into the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

In 2012, Mary continued her learning journey. She completed the Advanced Leadership Fellowship Programme at Harvard University in the United States.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Finan has received several honors for her contributions. In 2011, the National University of Ireland awarded her an honorary Doctor of Law Degree. This is a special degree given to people who have made significant achievements.

In 2015, Mary was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards. She was only the second woman to receive this special honor. This award recognized her long and successful career in business.