Eileen Flynn (; born 1989  ) is an Irish Independent politician who has served as a Senator since June 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. Her background is in community development and activist in equality and human rights, Travellersrights . In June 2020, Taoiseach Micheál Martin appointed Flynn to Seanad Éireann, the Irish Senate. She is the first Traveller to serve in the Oireachtas (legislature). <ref name="Sunday with Miriam podcast"> Cite episode |title=Sunday with Miriam podcast URL |access-date=30 June 2020 |series=Sunday with Miriam podcast |station=RTE Radio 1 |date=28 June 2020 |time=40:00 |quote=Miriam O'Callaghan: Are you the first Traveller to be elected to the Oireachtas? Flynn: Myself and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn would have had a conversation around this in March actually . Myself and Pádraig have different Traveller experience. I was born and reared on a halting site, Pádraig wasn't. We have different upbringings, but we're no less than each other. I don't think he fully identifies as a Traveller person. Early life Eileen was born in Labre Park, a halting site located in Ballyfermot in Dublin. Flynn's mother died  at the age of 48, when Eileen was 10 years old. Flynn subsequently struggled in school and rebelled against authority. However, Flynn credits her teachers for not giving up on her, and despite her problems both she and her twin became the first members of the Labre Park community to reach third level education in 2008. Flynn studied at Trinity College Dublin as part of an access course before attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education and later earning a degree at Maynooth University, a BA in community development. Activism Following the completion of her education, Flynn had been an activist and community worker for a decade, working with groups such as the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Ballyfermot Traveller Action Programme. She also campaigned and continues to campaign on issues such as housing, marriage equality, the rights and equality of opportunities for ethnic minorities, women's rights and anti-racism. Personal life Since 2018, Flynn lives in  County Donegal, with her husband Liam Whyte  , and their child Billie.
Eileen Flynn (; born 1989 /90 ) is an Irish Independent politician who has served as a Senator since June 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. Her background is in community development and activism on behalf of Irish Travellers . In June 2020, Taoiseach Micheál Martin appointed Flynn to Seanad Éireann, the Irish Senate. She is the first Traveller to serve in the Oireachtas (legislature). Early life Eileen and her twin sister Sally were born in Labre Park, a halting site located in Ballyfermot in Dublin. Flynn's mother died of pneumonia at the age of 48, when Eileen and Sally were 10 years old. Flynn subsequently struggled in school and rebelled against authority. However, Flynn credits her teachers for not giving up on her, and despite her problems both she and her twin became the first members of the Labre Park community to reach third level education in 2008. Flynn studied at Trinity College Dublin as part of an access course before attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education and later earning a degree at Maynooth University, a BA in community development. Activism Following the completion of her education, Flynn had been an activist and community worker for a decade, working with groups such as the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Ballyfermot Traveller Action Programme. She also campaigned on issues such as housing, marriage equality, abortion rights and anti-racism. Personal life Since 2018, Flynn lives in Ardara, County Donegal, with her husband Liam Whyte , a settled man , and their child Billie.
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/90
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activist in equality and human rights, Travellersrights
activism on behalf of Irish Travellers
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<ref name="Sunday with Miriam podcast">
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Cite episode |title=Sunday with Miriam podcast URL |access-date=30 June 2020 |series=Sunday with Miriam podcast |station=RTE Radio 1 |date=28 June 2020 |time=40:00 |quote=Miriam O'Callaghan: Are you the first Traveller to be elected to the Oireachtas? Flynn: Myself and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn would have had a conversation around this in March actually . Myself and Pádraig have different Traveller experience. I was born and reared on a halting site, Pádraig wasn't. We have different upbringings, but we're no less than each other. I don't think he fully identifies as a Traveller person.
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was
and her twin sister Sally were
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of pneumonia
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was
and Sally were
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and continues to campaign
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the rights and equality of opportunities for ethnic minorities, women's rights and
abortion rights and
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Ardara,
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, a settled man