The Leitrim women who opened doors and paved the way in local politics

Over the course of Leitrim County Council’s history, over 160 different men have been elected. In contrast, only eight women have been elected in the same period.

Two of these women, Cllr Mary Bohan and Kathleen Coleman, were pioneers in female representation on Leitrim County Council, first elected in 1979. 

Cllr Bohan, from Drumkeeran, has become Fianna Fáil’s longest-serving county councillor. Her mother, Alice McTiernan, also ran for election in 1967 but was not elected.

Cllr Bohan and Ms Coleman were present at an event in Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday, June 13, where tackling gender disparity in local politics was a central theme. 

The event, hosted by Leitrim PPN in collaboration with the North Leitrim Women’s Centre and See Her Elected, acknowledged both women as trailblazers who helped open the door for more women to run for, and be elected to, Leitrim County Council.

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Speaking about her decision to run for the 1979 local elections, Ms Coleman recalled the reaction from some in her locality: “What’s she going for?” 

She shared how a Fine Gael supporter encouraged her to contest the election. Though initially hesitant, she eventually agreed.

“I eventually agreed to go and then when I got on, I discovered I knew nothing about what it was all about,” she said.

“With myself and Mary Bohan there, and the rest of them men, it wasn’t easy but eventually we found our feet,” she added.

Cllr Bohan described the experience as a learning curve. “It was all new to us,” she said. “First of all you have to get used to staff and know the various committees and understand how the system works. After that, I think we got used to it pretty quickly.”

Although she wasn’t actively involved in politics at the time, Cllr Bohan had campaigned previously – when her mother ran for Council, as well as helping with canvassing in general elections and for the European Economic Committee. 

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That involvement gave her valuable insight. “I was used to that part of it. I hadn’t intended to run at that time but they were looking for someone to run and it came back to me,” she explained.

In Ms Coleman’s 1979 candidate profile in the Leitrim Observer, she expressed the view that women were treated as second-class citizens, though she noted change was beginning. While Ireland remains a challenging environment for women in areas like politics and healthcare, progress has been made – and continues.

“It’s improving and women were tied to different duties then. There was a perception that the woman’s duty was in the home and that’s all changed now because a lot of men look after children as well,” Cllr Bohan said.

She recounted how, during her 1979 campaign, only one man commented negatively about her candidacy, saying: “Do you not think you should be staying at home?” 

She acknowledged that while attitudes have shifted, women still face challenges, especially when balancing political life with responsibilities like childcare and afterschool activities.

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Ms Coleman served one term on Leitrim County Council before stepping down. “I left it, and I did learn a lot. I admired the councillors that came from different areas around the county and how enthusiastic they were about working hard for their people,” she said.

“I hope that during my time that I did my best, as they all do. It is a rewarding thing,” she added.

As of 2025, there are five female councillors among the 18 elected members of Leitrim County Council, and in 2024, 13 women contested the local election.

The tide is clearly turning, but more work remains. The contributions of women like Cllr Bohan, her mother Alice McTiernan, and Ms Coleman have helped lay the foundation – not only for the women currently serving but also for those yet to come.