Órfhlaith Begley
Órfhlaith Begley (/ˈoʊrlə ˈbɛɡliː/; born 19 December 1991) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. She is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the West Tyrone constituency of the British House of Commons, having first won the seat in a by-election on 3 May 2018. Prior to her political career, Begley was a solicitor.
Órfhlaith Begley | |
|---|---|
Begley in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for West Tyrone | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Barry McElduff |
| Majority | 7,478 (18.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 December 1991 Carrickmore, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Conor Carson (m. 2022) |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Early life and career edit
Begley was born on 19 December 1991 in Carrickmore, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.[1] She is the daughter of former Sinn Féin Omagh District Council chairman Seán Begley.[2] Begley grew up in Carrickmore, and played Gaelic football at the local club.[3] She studied Law and Politics at the Queen's University Belfast.[4] She then studied at the Institute of Professional and Legal Studies, graduating as a solicitor. Begley then worked as a solicitor in Portadown, County Armagh with her brother.[3]
Political career edit
Begley was selected as the Sinn Féin candidate for West Tyrone in the 2018 West Tyrone by-election on 26 February. The by-election had been called following the resignation of the previous Sinn Féin MP Barry McElduff on 15 January.[2] She was elected with a majority of 7,956.[5] Begley was the first female MP to represent the constituency since it was created in 1997.[4] She held the seat in the 2019 general election with a majority of 7,478.[6] She does not sit in the House of Commons per the party's longstanding policy of abstentionism.[4]
Personal life edit
Begley became engaged to engineer Conor Carson in February 2021, and they married in December 2022 in Carrickmore.[7][8]
References edit
- ^ Dale, Iain (2019). The Honourable Ladies : Volume II: Profiles of Women MPs 1997–2019. La Vergne: Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781785904479.
- ^ a b Bell, Jonathan (26 February 2018). "Sinn Fein picks solicitor Orfhlaith Begley (26) to fight candidate West Tyrone by-election". Belfast Telegraph. from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ a b Breen, Suzanne (5 May 2018). "Party's latest female face ticks right boxes but has to up game". Belfast Telegraph. from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ a b c "Órfhlaith Begley profile: Who is the new West Tyrone MP?". BBC News. 4 May 2018. from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ "SF's Begley wins West Tyrone by-election". BBC News. 4 May 2018. from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ Keena, Colm (13 December 2019). "West Tyrone: Órfhlaith Begley wins comfortably for Sinn Féin". The Irish Times. from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ Leebody, Christopher (30 December 2022). "Newly-married Sinn Fein MP's wedding snap sees her inundated with well wishes" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Breen, Nadia (13 January 2023). "Inside My Wedding: Co Tyrone couple's beautiful day at Manor House Hotel". Belfast Live. Retrieved 17 September 2023.