‘Dee-lighted’ at Senate nomination
Taoiseach Micheál Martin rewards Dee Ryan for strong election showings
TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has rewarded Dee Ryan for her strong mayoral and general election performances for Fianna Fail by nominating her to the Senate.
The Castleconnell mum-of-four joins Limerick’s Joanne Collins, of Sinn Fein, and Fine Gael’s Maria Byrne in the Upper House.
Mr Martin announced eleven nominees to Seanad Éireann on Friday night. He intends to advise the President to convene the first meeting of the new Seanad on Wednesday, February 12.
Ms Ryan said she was “so grateful and humbled to be appointed to the Seanad by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin”.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside my Fianna Fáil party colleagues in the coming years! Thanks so much to everyone who has supported me,” said Ms Ryan in a post on her social media accounts.
Ms Ryan garnered 11,785 first preferences in the mayoral election. She was finally eliminated in the 12th count behind Helen O’Donnell and Mayor John Moran.
Months later, Ms Ryan ran in the general election in Limerick City for Fianna Fail. She garnered 6.71% of the number one votes but lost out in the three-way battle between herself, Cllr Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats, and Labour’s Conor Sheehan in the battle for the fourth seat.
The daughter of Brian Corbett and Valerie Corbett, grew up in county Limerick with her brothers Cathal and Ruairi in the 1980s. After completing her schooling in Limerick, she went on to attend the University of Limerick and graduated with a degree in Business in 1998.
Ms Ryan, who is married to Mike , established and ran Spark Marketing in the city centre for well over a decade. She served as CEO of Limerick Chamber for five years before stepping down to concentrate on politics.