Laois history maker to the fore in International Women's Day celebration

The Laois Sinn Féin representative in Leinster House was front and centre of an International Women's Day event at Ireland's parliamentary buildings.

Portlaoise-based Senator Maria McCormack stood next to Verona Murphy TD, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann Verona Murphy with invited guests on the steps of Leinster House on Thursday, March 5.

To mark International Women’s Day 2025, which takes place on Saturday, March 8, Ceann Comhairle Murphy, was joined by guest speakers for a reception in the members restaurant of Leinster House. 

The Ceann Comhairle opened the event with a short welcome address to guests in attendance including female members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and female members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Sen McCormack, who is the first female from Laois to represent the county in the Dáil or Seanad, was among those to join for a group photograph on the steps of Leinster House to mark the event.

Pictured Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and Senator Maria McCormack.

The invited guest speakers included Deirdre Bonass, skin cancer activist, Anna Furlong, founder of the Rapunzel Foundation and Anne Marie O’Mahoney and Mia Larkin Walsh from Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy. Music was performed by singers Hayley Crosbie and Sarah Deevy from Co. Wexford.

Speaking about celebrating International Women's Day, the Ceann Comhairle said: “I very much wanted to mark this milestone, the first International Women’s Day with a female Ceann Comhairle…Today is a day of recognition for women in all aspects of life, women who have used their voices to reach out and make a difference in the world.”

International Women’s Day is a global event that aims to drive gender parity and celebrate the success of women. The theme of the 2025 edition is Accelerate Action.