Sheelagh Murnaghan facts for kids

Sheelagh Mary Murnaghan was an important politician from Northern Ireland. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ulster Liberal Party. She worked in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, which was located at Stormont. She was born in 1924 and passed away in 1993. She was also awarded the OBE, which is a special honor.

Sheelagh Murnaghan's Early Life

Loreto Convent, Omagh, where Sheelagh went to school.

Sheelagh Mary Murnaghan was born on May 24, 1924. Her parents were Josephine Mary Morrogh and Vincent Hugh Murnaghan. She was the oldest of their six children. Her grandfather, George Murnaghan, was also a well-known politician in Ireland.

Sheelagh went to school at Loreto Grammar School in Omagh. She also studied at Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham. Later, she went to Queen's University Belfast to study law. She finished her law degree in 1947.

While at Queen's University, Sheelagh was very active. She was the captain of the university's hockey team from 1955 to 1956. She also made history by becoming the first female president of the Literary and Scientific Debating Society. This society was also known as The Literific.

Her Political Career

After finishing college, Sheelagh Murnaghan became a politician. She was one of only nine women ever elected to the Stormont House of Commons. This was a big achievement, as there were 52 seats in total during its 50 years.

She joined the Ulster Liberal Association in 1959. She served as an MP for the Queen's University Belfast area. Her time as a politician ended in November 1968. This happened when the special seat for Queen's University Belfast was removed. Some people thought Sheelagh was a unique and interesting person during her time in politics.

What She Campaigned For

While she was an MP, Sheelagh Murnaghan worked hard for important changes. She wanted to get rid of the death penalty, which is when the government executes someone for a crime. She also strongly supported a bill of human rights. This bill would protect the basic rights and freedoms of all people.

After her seat was removed, Sheelagh tried to win elections in other areas. She ran for North Down in 1969, but she did not win. She also tried for Belfast South in 1973, but was not successful there either.

Later Work and Legacy

In the 1970s, Sheelagh worked on different public groups. These groups are sometimes called quangos. She was part of the Industrial Relations Tribunal. She also worked for the Equal Opportunities Commission. This group helps make sure everyone has fair chances, especially in jobs.

Sheelagh continued to work as a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. She focused on cases where people were being unfairly treated or harassed.

Sheelagh Murnaghan passed away in 1993. She was 69 years old.