Lynn Ruane (born 20 October 1984) is an Irish politician who has served as an independent senator for the Dublin University constituency in Seanad Éireann since April 2016.

[2] While she grew up in a happy and stable home environment, Ruane's childhood was marked by trauma, with her community affected disproportionately by poverty, deprivation, drug addiction and premature death.

[3] At age 13, she witnessed a close friend being struck by a bus and killed, the first of a number of young deaths she confronted in her local area.

[4] Ruane became pregnant at the age of 15, at which point she left school, although her guidance counsellor later convinced her to return to complete her Junior Certificate.

[4] Ruane describes motherhood as having had a profound impact on her life, helping her to "ease the pain and give [her] a purpose".

[10] In December 2015, Ruane announced her intention to contest the 2016 Seanad election in the Dublin University constituency as an independent candidate.

[11] She was elected to represent Trinity graduates in the Oireachtas on the 15th and final count, unseating incumbent Sean Barrett.

[30] Minister Eamon Ryan TD successfully sought to delay the future passage of the Bill for six months, stalling its progress.

[45][46] In 2021, Ruane contributed to a published collection of memoirs and essays called The 32: An Anthology of Irish Working-Class Voices.

[51] In February 2023, Ruane presented a two-part documentary on RTÉ with Miriam Margolyes entitled Lady Gregory: Ireland's First Social Influencer.

[52] The series, filmed in the summer of 2022, traces the influence of Lady Augusta Gregory on Irish theatre, writing and the arts.

[56] The film, directed by Grace Dyas, depicts a day in the life of a young family affected by poverty and addiction.

[4] Ruane lives with endometriosis, and has advocated for more expedient diagnosis and better care for people affected by the disease in Ireland.