Kathleen Lemass

Kathleen Muriel Hughes was born at Beechwood Avenue in Ranelagh, the eldest of five children, four of whom survived to adulthood.

The Hughes family were largely apolitical and played no active role during the Irish revolutionary period.

The couple became engaged, however, the marriage was initially opposed to by her father who felt that Lemass had been spending so much time in prison that he could not make a proper home.

Maureen Lemass later married Charles Haughey, who would succeed his father-in-law as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in 1979.

For much of her husbands' political career she kept a low profile and enjoyed a background role, however, as the wife of the Taoiseach she often accompanied him on official visits.