Carol Nolan

Carol Nolan (born 23 May 1978) is an Irish politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since the 2016 general election.

Carol Nolan

TD
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyLaois–Offaly
In office
February 2016 – February 2020
ConstituencyOffaly
Personal details
Born (1978-05-23) 23 May 1978
Cadamstown, County Offaly, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Sinn Féin (until 2018)
Spouse(s)Gerard Nolan (m. 2010)
Children2
Alma mater
ProfessionSchoolteacher, Politician
Websitecarolnolan.ie

She was first elected a TD for the Offaly constituency from 2016 to 2020 when she was elected representing Sinn Fein, and served as the partys spokesperson on Community and Rural Development. She resigned from the party, due to her pro-life views, in 2018 and sat as an Independent, joining the Rural Independents Technical Group in the Dail.

She was re-elected as an Independent TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency in the 2020 general election.[1] Nolan is a member of the Rural Group of Independent TDs in the 33rd Dail.[2]

Early life

Before becoming a TD, she was a Sinn Féin councillor on Offaly County Council from 2014 to 2016, for the Birr electoral ward.[3] She was formerly a primary school teacher for 12 years.[4] Nolan was also principal of Gaelscoil Thromaire in County Laois for 3 years.[5]

Abortion issue

In March 2018, she was suspended from Sinn Féin for three months for voting against legislation to allow for a referendum on the repeal of the Eight Amendment to the Constitution, support for which had been adopted at the party's Ard Fheis.[6]

She endorsed the Cherish all the Children Equally campaign which advocated for a No vote in the 2018 abortion referendum.[7] She campaigned for the Love Both campaign which also advocated for a No vote in the referendum.

She resigned from Sinn Féin on 19 June 2018 over the party's stance on abortion, saying "“I won’t be supporting the legislation as my position remains the same, as a pro-life TD who is strongly opposed to abortion".[8][9]

References
  1. "Carol Nolan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. "Laois-Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan joins new political group". Laois Today. 13 February 2020.
  3. "Carol Nolan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  4. "Profile: Carol Nolan (SF)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. "About Me". Carol Nolan TD. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. "Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan suspended after voting against abortion referendum". Journal.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. "Republicans Supporting Cherish". Cherish all the Children Equally. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  8. McCormack, Jayne. "Carol Nolan resigns from Sinn Féin over abortion stance". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  9. "Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan says she will not vote for abortion law". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
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