Fionnuala Kenny

Fionnuala Kenny
Born
Fionnuala Bríd O'Kelly

(1956-03-01) 1 March 1956 (age 68)
Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
Alma mater
Known forSpouse of the Taoiseach
(2011–2017)
Spouse
​
(m. 1992)​
Children3
FatherSeán Kelly

Fionnuala Bríd Kenny (née O'Kelly; born 1 March 1956) is an Irish public relations specialist who is the wife of former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She is a former press officer for the Fianna Fáil Party.[1][2]

In March 1987, Kenny became the first woman to head the Irish Government Information Service, a position she held until 1990.[3] She then served as the head of public affairs at Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), beginning in 1990.[1] She has been described by the media as Kenny's "best asset" and his "secret weapon."[3]

Kenny, the daughter of two civil servants, was born Fionnuala O'Kelly in 1956, in Clontarf, Dublin.[3][1] She was educated at St Louis College (St Louis Secondary School) in County Monaghan. She then studied French and German, at University College Dublin.[3] O'Kelly received her master's degree in French from Nancy-Université in Nancy, France.[3]

Once she returned to Ireland, she enrolled in a public relations course which was offered by AnCo, an agency which later became part of the present-day Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS).[3] O'Kelly applied for a public relations position, which was advertised in a newspaper for a "national organisation." She only discovered that the organisation mentioned in the employment ad was Fianna Fáil, one of Ireland's two major political parties, once she had been offered a job interview.[3][2] She won the job, despite an intimidating encounter with Charles Haughey during the interview, and became Fianna Fáil's press officer at Leinster House.[3] She worked under Haughey, the Leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach from 1979 to 1981, 1982, and 1987 to 1992, for much of the next decade.[3] O'Kelly put together the photographs published in "The Spirit of the Nation: the Speeches and Statements of Charles J Haughey (1957-86)," a book edited by Martin Mansergh.[3]

Charles Haughey regained his position as Taoiseach in 1987. In March 1987, Fionnuala O'Kelly was appointed the head the Government Information Service, becoming the first woman to lead the agency.[3]

On the first day of the 31st Dáil on 9 March 2011, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin sent his regards to her in the chamber after her husband was elected Taoiseach. Enda Kenny responded, "Were she still with you today, you might be in a much stronger position today."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c O'Doherty, Gemma (6 January 2016). "Fionnuala Kenny -- Enda's secret weapon". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Step forward Fionnuala -- Taoiseach's wife and his perfect partner as he runs country". The Herald (Ireland). 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Reilly, Jerome (8 April 2007). "Enda's been hiding his party's best asset: his wife". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. ^ As it happened: Enda Kenny’s appointment as Taoiseach Archived 2016-04-17 at the Wayback Machine - 13:57 and 13:59