Marie-Louise O'Donnell

Marie-Louise O'Donnell (born 5 September 1952) is an Irish academic, and later broadcaster and politician, who served as a Senator from 2011 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. She played a key role in the arts at Dublin City University over a 23-year period, including in the launch of the Helix cultural centre.

Early life and education From Foxford, County Mayo, O'Donnell is the daughter and second child of Frank O'Donnell from Foxford (relatives founded the Foxford Woolen Mills, in which her father and uncles worked) and Maire Cranny from Newry, a speech and drama teacher, still working in southern County Dublin as of 2018.

O'Donnell studied education and English at the University of Nottingham, then took a master's degree in Education at NUI Maynooth, and another, in Modern Drama, at University College Dublin. Later she studied theatre, including direction, and voice and other acting skills, at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Career Education and the Arts O'Donnell became head of drama at the teacher training college, Carysfort College,

She also became involved in building the arts aspect of campus life, including DCU Arts Week, the Writer in Residence Programme, Ford Society Awards and Children's Arts Days. She worked on productions including the Larkin Concert Series, Wilde Space Theatre, Open Air Opera, RIAM graduate concerts, and a performance at DCU by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

O'Donnell has also lectured extensively in Ireland, Europe and the US in the areas of education, and Irish culture, especially drama and language. In the early 2000s, she also spent six months as a touring actor across the UK and Ireland, in The Merry Wives of Windsor and King John with the Northern Broadsides company. In 2004, she co-founded, with Andy Hinds, the theatrical company Classic Stage Ireland, which produced Shakespeare and ancient Greek drama.

Political appointment In May 2011, Taoiseach Enda Kenny nominated O'Donnell to the 24th Seanad. O'Donnell indicated that the appointment was a surprise, She ousted David Norris from his role as leader of the Seanad's independent Technical Group on 29 June 2016; however, she later left the group.

Recent years More recently, in addition to her work with RTÉ and presence in the Seanad, she has appeared as a panellist on TV3's Tonight with Vincent Browne, often featuring in the section of the programme that reviews the following morning's newspapers. She is noted for her persistent and firm defence of Enda Kenny. In March 2018 she sparked criticism after stating teenagers below the age of 18 should “stay away from politics”

O'Donnell commenced PhD studies on university teaching at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, now the DCU Institute of Education, in 2009.