Tributes paid to the late Trás Honan, the only woman to serve as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has paid tribute to former Senator and Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Clonmel woman Trás Honan, who has died.

93-year-old Mrs. Honan, who was a member of the Barlow family, is the only woman to serve as Seanad Cathaoirleach since the foundation of the state.

“I am very sorry to learn of the death of my friend, fellow party member and former senator Trás Honan,” said Micheál Martin.

“Trás was a consummate and natural politician. She was in politics for all the right and noble reasons: to strive to improve the lives of people and their communities.

“She was an able and determined public representative, driven and committed. 

"Trás was a trailblazer for her time, becoming the first woman elected Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, a position she held twice. No other woman has held the position since.

 “I greatly valued her friendship and advice. Even up to very recently, she was in contact, offering her support, advice and invaluable insights.

“Trás' family was steeped in republican heritage. Her late sister Carrie served as TD and her father, Matt Barlow, fought in the War of Independence,” the Tánaiste stated.

Mrs Honan was a Senator between 1977 and 1992 and was elected Cathaoirleach twice. When her sister, the late Carrie Acheson, was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981 they were the first sisters to serve as Oireachtas members at the same time.

Following her retirement from national politics, Mrs Honan re-located to her Waterford home at John’s Hill. In her new role as Chairperson of Bus Éireann, she led the development and construction of Waterford Bus Station at Merchant’s Quay. She later served on the Board of Management at Mercy Primary School.

Following employment at Waterford’s Adelphi Hotel, she moved to Ennis in 1950 and ran the Honan family pub at O’Connell Square. She was a founder member of Ennis and District Soroptimists. Their advocacy and fundraising led to the foundation of St Clare’s and St Anne’s schools for children with special needs, and other related services.

A member of the Fianna Fáil party, Mrs Honan was closely associated with Clare politics. She was the first woman elected to, and as Chairperson, of the then Ennis Urban District Council.

Her late husband Derry Honan and father-in-law TV Honan both served in Seanad Éireann.

In 2022 the former Cathaoirleach returned to Leinster House for the centenary celebrations of Seanad Éireann. She is included in a collage of images depicting all women Senators for the past 100 years, and which now hangs in the Houses of The Oireachtas.

She is survived by her son TV Honan, daughter Ann Honan-Croke, her brother Aidan Barlow (Clonmel) and her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, to whom sincere sympathy is extended.