Veteran Máirín Quill bows out with honours

AT the centre of Irish politics for over three decades, veteran politician Máirín Quill was honoured with a civic reception last night ahead of her retirement from public life.

Handpicked by former taoiseach Jack Lynch, the Kerry-born Cork city councillor became one of the first women to win a Dáil seat in Cork for Fianna Fáil before going on to become a founder member of the Progressive Democrats.

She also played a pivotal role in the educational, artistic and civic life of her adopted city, while all the time promoting the role of women in politics.