Pauline O'Reilly
Irish politician (born 1974/1975)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pauline O'Reilly (born 1974/1975) is an Irish Green Party politician who served as a Senator for the Labour Panel from June 2020 to January 2025,[2][3] and was chair of the Green Party from December 2021 to May 2025.[4]
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Pauline O'Reilly | |
|---|---|
O'Reilly in 2020 | |
| Senator | |
| In office 29 June 2020 – 31 January 2025 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| Chair of the Green Party | |
| In office 16 December 2021 – 1 May 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974/1975 (age 51–52)[1] Dublin, Ireland |
| Party | Green Party |
| Spouse | Conor O'Donovan |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
Early life and education
Political career
O'Reilly was elected to Galway City Council at the 2019 local elections.[5]
O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in Galway West at the 2020 general election. She won 6% of first preference votes and finished ninth in the five seat constituency.[6][7]
She was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2020 as a senator for the Labour Panel.[8] She served as Green Party spokesperson for Education and Higher Education while in the Seanad.[9] She was the leader of the Green Party in the Seanad until December 2022.[10]
On 24 March 2021, O'Reilly was one of three Green Party senators to table a motion of no confidence against party chair Hazel Chu, after Chu announced her candidacy in a Seanad by-election as an independent, with O'Reilly stating she does not believe it's appropriate "to run as an independent candidate and also to be a chair of a party that’s in government and is supporting government candidates".[11] The motion was later withdrawn at the request of then deputy leader Catherine Martin and Chu was not sanctioned for her decision.[12]
On 16 December 2021, O'Reilly was elected as Chair of the Irish Green Party, succeeding Chu.[13] O'Reilly was re-elected to the position of party chair on 26 November 2023.[14] She was succeeded in that position by Dublin City Councillor Janet Horner in 2025.[4]
O'Reilly was the Green Party's candidate for the Midlands–North-West constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election.[14] O'Reilly received 13,710 (2.0%) first preference votes but was not elected.[15]
Personal life
O'Reilly has two children and practices unschooling with them.[16][17] Her husband works from home.[18]