Seanad Éireann

The Seanad was created under the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State. It consisted of sixty members and was abolished in 1936.

The modern Seanad Éireann was created under Bunreacht na hÉireann, the modern Irish constitution, in 1937. It consists of sixty members. Eleven are appointed by the Taoiseach (pronounced tee-shock, meaning prime minister). Six are elected by the universities; three by the National University of Ireland[?] and three by the University of Dublin (generally known as Trinity College, Dublin). The remaining forty three are elected from panels by an electorate made up of TDs (Irish MPs), senators and local councillors.

Tends to contain Protestants either not otherwise electorally feasible for the Dail, or as victims (like the late Gordon Wilson) of events such as the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombing in which his daughter, Marie. was killed).

Seanad Éireann is chaired by the Cathaoirleach (pronounced, ka-here-loch).

Famous Irish senators include

• Douglas Hyde
• William Butler Yeats
• Lord Glenavy[?]
• Seamus Mallon[?]
• Mary Robinson
• David Norris
• Garret FitzGerald
• Noel Browne[?]