Silouette graphic representing Tipperary

Tipperary County Council’s Women’s Caucus

The aim of the women’s caucus is to help build the capacity of women councillors; especially newly elected councillors, through formal and informal mentoring and promote women’s equality in Local Government.

The aim of the women’s caucus is to help build the capacity of women councillors; especially newly elected councillors, through formal and informal mentoring and promote women’s equality in Local Government.

The newly formed group was established in February 2023 for the purposes of arranging meetings to discuss challenges faced by female politicians, and is made up of women councillors across Tipperary, ensuring that there is gender balance in politics and to encourage more women to enter politics. 

A seminar aimed at highlighting a pathway for women into Local Government was hosted by Tipperary Women’s Caucus and Tipperary County Council in association with See Her Elected (SHE programme) at the Source Arts Centre, Thurles Thursday, 18 May 2023, which included panel discussion with female councillors from Tipperary on their journey into politics and the day-to-day reality of being public representatives. This event brought he voices of Tipperary women in politics and the community together to understand what the role of a Councillor entails and about pathways into Tipperary County Council. There were two conversational-style panels with Councillors and one in-depth interview with keynote speaker, Kathleen O'Meara.

Kathleen is a public affairs consultant and a former member of Seanad Éireann, North Tipperary County Council, and Nenagh Town Council. A feature of the day was an extended questions and answer sessions which made the event as interactive and inclusive as possible.

The See Her Elected (SHE) is an award-winning Government funded programme which aims to encourage women from rural areas to engage in local politics and assists in providing a pathway for women into local government.