Irene Calvert
Encyclopedia
Irene Calvert was a Northern Irish
politician
and economist
.
Born in Belfast
, as Lilian Irene Mercer Earls, she studied at Methodist College, Belfast. Leaving school at the age of 18 she worked for some years in various stores, before going to Queen's University, Belfast from 1933 to 1936 to study economics
and philosophy
. In 1941 she was appointed to the vacant post of Chief Welfare Officer for Northern Ireland, immediately having to organise care for a flood of wartime evacuee
s including those evacuated to Northern Ireland from Gibraltar.
In 1944, Calvert was urged to contest a by-election for the Queen's University Belfast constituency to put a woman's point of view. She was unsuccessful but stood again in the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, as an independent (non-party) candidate, and on this occasion succeeded in taking a seat. She held the seat until she stood down at the 1953 election
. In Parliament, she refused to discuss the constitutional question, which she regarded as a distraction from the real task of social reform, including the passage of the Education Act, 1947. In her resignation speech, she did however question whether the Northern Irish economy could thrive while the partition of Ireland
continued.
In 1950 Calvert began working at the Ulster Weaving Company as an economist, and having successfully helped build up their institutional sales was appointed a managing director. In 1956 she was invited to become a group chairman at the Duke of Edinburgh's Study Conference on Industry. She also served on the Belfast City Chamber of Commerce
, becoming its first (and indeed only) woman president in 1965–1966. She also served on Queen's University's Senate and Board of Curators, and was active in the Irish Association.
In 1964, she took up the position of executive manager (subsequently development manager) of Great Southern Hotels, a subsidiary of CIE, the Irish Transport Company, with whom she worked until early 1970. In 1970, she was briefly Head of Households for Doris Duke
. She retired to Dublin where she was an active supporter of the Irish Labour Party.well into her eighties. She died at the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, on 19 May 2000.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
.
Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, as Lilian Irene Mercer Earls, she studied at Methodist College, Belfast. Leaving school at the age of 18 she worked for some years in various stores, before going to Queen's University, Belfast from 1933 to 1936 to study economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. In 1941 she was appointed to the vacant post of Chief Welfare Officer for Northern Ireland, immediately having to organise care for a flood of wartime evacuee
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
s including those evacuated to Northern Ireland from Gibraltar.
In 1944, Calvert was urged to contest a by-election for the Queen's University Belfast constituency to put a woman's point of view. She was unsuccessful but stood again in the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, as an independent (non-party) candidate, and on this occasion succeeded in taking a seat. She held the seat until she stood down at the 1953 election
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
. In Parliament, she refused to discuss the constitutional question, which she regarded as a distraction from the real task of social reform, including the passage of the Education Act, 1947. In her resignation speech, she did however question whether the Northern Irish economy could thrive while the partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
continued.
In 1950 Calvert began working at the Ulster Weaving Company as an economist, and having successfully helped build up their institutional sales was appointed a managing director. In 1956 she was invited to become a group chairman at the Duke of Edinburgh's Study Conference on Industry. She also served on the Belfast City Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, becoming its first (and indeed only) woman president in 1965–1966. She also served on Queen's University's Senate and Board of Curators, and was active in the Irish Association.
In 1964, she took up the position of executive manager (subsequently development manager) of Great Southern Hotels, a subsidiary of CIE, the Irish Transport Company, with whom she worked until early 1970. In 1970, she was briefly Head of Households for Doris Duke
Doris Duke
Doris Duke was an American heiress, horticulturalist, art collector, and philanthropist.-Family and early life:...
. She retired to Dublin where she was an active supporter of the Irish Labour Party.well into her eighties. She died at the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, on 19 May 2000.