Kathleen Lemass
| Kathleen Lemass | |
|---|---|
| Spouse of the Taoiseach | |
|
In office 23 June 1959 – 11 November 1966 |
|
| President |
Seán T. O'Kelly Eamon de Valera |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Sinéad de Valera |
| Succeeded by | Máirín Lynch |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kathleen Mary Hughes 18 September 1898 Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 14 March 1985 (aged 86) Churchtown, Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) |
Seán Lemass (m. 1924-1971, his death) |
| Children |
Maureen (1925-2017) Margaret (1927-2004) Noel (1929-1976) Sheila (1932-1997) |
| Parents | Thomas Hughes Agnes Hughes |
| Residence | 26 Hillside Drive, Castlepark, Churchtown, Dublin 14 |
Kathleen Mary Josephine Lemass (née Hughes; 18 September 1898 - 14 March 1985) was the wife of Seán Lemass, who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1959 until 1966.
Kathleen Muriel Hughes was born at Beechwood Avenue in Ranelagh, the eldest of five children, four of whom survived to adulthood. Her father, Thomas Hughes, was a carpet buyer in Arnotts. The Hughes's were largely apolitical and played no active role during the Irish revolutionary period.
As a young woman she worked as a shorthand typist. She studied singing under Vincent O'Brien and won prizes at the Feis Ceoil.
Hughes met Seán Lemass when they were both children. Their families were friendly and would often holiday together in Skerries during the summer. A relationship developed, with Hughes writing to him during his imprisonment following the 1916 Easter Rising. The couple became engaged, however, the marriage was initially opposed to by her father who felt that Lemass had been spending so much time in prison that he could not make a proper home. In spite of this the couple married on 24 August 1924 at the Church of the Holy Name in Ranelagh.
The Lemasses had four children: Maureen, Margaret (Peggy), Noel and Sheila. The three daughters all got tuberculosis at the same time. Maureen Lemass later married Charles Haughey, who would succeed his father-in-law as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in 1979. Noel Lemass would follow his father into politics, serving alongside him as a TD.
Seán Lemass was elected as a TD for Dublin South shortly after his marriage in November 1924. Over the next 35 years he worked tirelessly to build and develop the Fianna Fáil party. He was a long-serving Minister for Industry and Commerce before being promoted to the position of Tánaiste. In 1959 he was unanimously appointed leader of Fianna Fáil before being elected Taoiseach. For much of her husbands' political career she kept a low profile and enjoyed a background role, however, as the wife of the Taoiseach she often accompanied him on official visits. Along with her husband she met US President John F. Kennedy just two months before his assassination in 1963.
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