Her parents were James Ireland, a metallurgical engineer, and Joan Filipek, a volunteer counselor at Planned Parenthood.
She has also advocated electing female candidates, and training people to defend clinics from anti-abortion protesters around the United States.
In October 2003, Ireland was dismissed after refusing to step down, although YWCA spokespeople denied that conservative pressure was a factor in the decision.
[17][18][19] Following her dismissal from the YWCA, Ireland was former Senator Carol Moseley Braun's national campaign manager for her brief 2004 presidential bid.
[20][21] Ireland returned to Miami and resumed practicing law, representing unions and their members until her retirement in 2023.