Former TD Kathleen mourned
THE county this week mourned former Kerry North TD Kathleen Fitzgerald (née O’Connor), who passed away last Wednesday, December 13, at the age of 83.
Mrs Fitzgerald was born in July 1934 at Farmer’s Bridge, Tralee, and was best known for successfully standing in a 1956 by-election for Clann na Poblachta. Before entering politics, she taught at Meen National School, Knocknagoshel, having studied in Coláiste Íde, Dingle, and Carysfort College, Dublin.
She was asked by Clann na Poblachta leader Seán MacBride to stand for the Dáil after her father, Johnny O’Connor, was killed in a road accident in December 1955, and would go on to win what was the first and only by-election in the constituency.
Fine Gael, Labour, and Clann na Talmhan chose not to run candidates in opposition to Mrs Fitzgerald, who defeated Fianna Fáil’s Dan Moloney in the ensuing vote. It was a remarkable success given that she became the youngest TD in the 15th Dáil and had in fact been too young to vote for herself in the very by-election she won.
Having been one of just seven female deputies in Dáil Éireann, she chose not to defend her seat in the 1957 General Election and would instead return to teaching.
Before she passed away last week, the mother-of-four was the oldest living former female TD.
Among those to pay tribute to the former Clann na Poblachta TD was SF Deputy Martin Ferris, who said he “knew and respected Kathleen for many years”.
Her Requiem Mass took place at St John’s Church on Saturday afternoon, before she was laid to rest in Rath Cemetery.
Predeceased by husband Eamon, she is survived by daughters Ann and Claire; sons John and Brian; five grandchildren; and her many friends and relatives.