US Governor with local ancestry to address Seanad

The Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey, whose maternal ancestry is from the Ballinasloe/South Roscommon area, will address Seanad Éireann on Tuesday.

Governor Healey's great-grandmother's birth Kate Treacy was born July 15, 1897 in Killahornia/Culliagharny, Creagh, Ballinasloe in Roscommon to Michael Treacy and Mary Hogarty.

Welcoming the confirmation of the address next Tuesday, Ballinasloe Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan told the Seanad last week: “When I speak about where I come, a small town, it is powerful to think that someone left Ireland as an emigrant and travelled to faraway shores, and now one of their family, a woman, is in this position as Governor and she is coming to Ireland to speak here in Seanad Éireann.”

Senator Dolan said Governor Healey is the first female governor in Massachusetts. She is one of the first openly gay candidates to run for and to be elected to office in the US.

“Governor Healey's election last November was an incredible win for an excellent candidate for the Democratic Party, a person who has fought for civil rights, immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights all through her career,” she said.

Her victory, Senator Dolan said, was important for young women everywhere.

“She spoke to this when she was elected, about how, for young girls all over the world, there is no ceiling they cannot break. It is important we are seeing someone who is such a role model coming here to speak to us in Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. I thank the Cathaoirleach for organising this. I look forward to meeting this inspirational role model who will be with us next Tuesday.”

Senator Dolan added that there will be groups from Ballinasloe to welcome her when she comes to Seanad Éireann next Tuesday.