Bríd Rodgers
Bríd Rodgers (née Stratford; born 20 February 1935) in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland, is an Irish nationalist former politician.
Bríd Rodgers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development | |
| In office 2 December 1999 – 14 October 2002[1] | |
| First Minister | David Trimble |
| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Gildernew |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann | |
| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 | |
| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Dolores Kelly |
| Senator | |
| In office 22 February 1983 – 5 April 1987 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bríd Stratford 20 February 1935 Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Antoin Rodgers |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence | Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Although born and brought up in a Gaeltacht area in the west of County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, she was politically active in Northern Ireland, where she was Deputy-Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann.
Political career
Rodgers was educated in Monaghan and University College, Dublin, and has lived in Northern Ireland since 1960. She was involved in the Civil Rights Movement from 1965. She was a founder member of the SDLP, becoming Chairman in 1978 and General Secretary in 1981. In 1983 she was appointed to the Irish Senate by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, and served until 1987.[2][3]
Rodgers was a leader of the SDLP team in the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the constituency of Upper Bann in June 1998. She was appointed to the first Northern Ireland Executive in November 1999 as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and remained in that position until the suspension of the Executive in October 2002. She became deputy leader of the SDLP in November 2001. She stood down as MLA at the Assembly elections of November 2003, and as deputy leader in February 2004, when she was replaced by Alasdair McDonnell.
Personal life
Rodgers is married to Antoin Rodgers, together, they have six children. She is a distant relative of Irish American mobster Vincent Coll. She speaks fluent Irish, French and Italian.
References
- Office suspended 11 February 2000 - 30 May 2000
- "Brid Rodgers". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- "Brid Rodgers". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Denis Haughey |
Chairperson of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 1978–1980 |
Succeeded by Sean Farren |
| Preceded by Don Canning |
General Secretary of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 1981–1983 |
Succeeded by Eamon Hanna |
| Preceded by Seamus Mallon |
Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 2001–2004 |
Succeeded by Alasdair McDonnell |
| Northern Ireland Forum | ||
| New forum | Member for Upper Bann 1996–1998 |
Forum dissolved |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
| New assembly | MLA for Upper Bann 1998–2003 |
Succeeded by Dolores Kelly |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 1999–2000 |
Vacant Office suspended Title next held by self |
| Vacant Office suspended Title last held by self |
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 2000–2002 |
Vacant Office suspended Title next held by Michelle Gildernew |