Mayo's Bevin Maloney offers renewed hope in 'unfortunate' electoral area

WOMEN IN POLITICS: FINAL PART OF A FOUR-PART SERIES

The Swinford electoral area holds the unfortunate distinction of having never elected a woman to its vast east Mayo electoral area.

Throughout history, only four women have ever put their name on the ballot paper, with two of those coming in last year’s local elections.

Fianna Fáil, in particular, has come under scrutiny at a national level for its lack of female representation; however, the party has historically produced female candidates in local elections in Mayo.

Bridie Greavey became the first female Fianna Fáiler to be elected in 1985 in the Ballina area, while Annie May Reape subsequently followed her in 1991, becoming the only woman candidate in Mayo to ever top the poll in two local elections. Margaret Adams (2004 in Westport)and Rose Conway-Walsh (2014 in west Mayo area) both achieved this feat once.

Annie May Reape went on to become the county’s only ever woman Cathaoirleach of the council in 2000.

The party, however, according to Bevin Maloney, who is chair of Women’s Ógra Fianna Fáil in Trinity College Dublin, believes the party is adapting once again.

Politics, she says, has always been part of her life.

“It was a constant topic at the dinner table growing up,” she recalls. “That really sparked my interest.”

At Trinity College, she joined Fianna Fáil, drawn less by tradition than by practicality. “I liked the idea of being a centralist. Fianna Fáil has a reputation for getting things done locally. That appealed to me.”

Bevin’s grandfather, Jimmy Maloney, was a Fianna Fáil councillor for the Swinford electoral area. He topped the poll in the same elections as Annie May Reape did in the east Mayo count in 1991 and 1999, and he held on to his seat until the electoral area was re-configured for the 2014 election.

For Bevin, however, she is keen to stamp her own identity on politics, calling the gender imbalance in local politics both glaring and motivating.

“I was shocked when I realised that no woman from my area had ever been elected as a councillor,” she says.

“Women have always been the engine behind campaigns, but they’re rarely front and centre. It’s time to change that.”

Her role as chair of the Ógra Women’s Network is part of that mission. The organisation recruits, retains, and develops women in politics, providing training, mentorship, and confidence-building. “Confidence is always a big issue,” Bevin says.

“Many women underestimate themselves, even when they’re more than capable. Traditional gender roles still linger, especially in rural areas, and expectations about caregiving or domestic responsibilities can limit political engagement.”

She also points to the extra pressures young women face on the campaign trail: scrutiny of their appearance, personality, and social media presence, often far beyond what male counterparts encounter.

“These comments are widely available online long after the race is over. They can affect not just candidates, but everyone close to them,” she notes.

Yet, optimism runs through Bevin’s outlook.

She insists politics isn’t just about elected office.

“It’s about everyday conversations, whether the bus arrives on time, or the cost of fuel. Politics is in all of that.”

Fianna Fáil, she says, is evolving too.

“There’s more mentorship and structural support for women now, but it needs to be ongoing, not just around elections. Investing in women early creates more qualified candidates.”

Bevin cites trailblazers like European member of parliament Cynthia Ní Mhurchú for inspiration.

When asked what it is about the former barrister turned Ireland South MEP, Bevin noted her humility.

“She remembers every detail about people, even when meeting hundreds of young individuals. It’s the combination of competence and humanity that I admire most.”

Recent local successes also give her hope. Alma Gallagher’s election in Claremorris shows that visibility matters.

“It sends a clear message: women belong in the room. It can be done.”

On the question of whether women would handle local issues differently, Bevin pushes back against gendered assumptions.

“Women bring different life perspectives, but we can perform just as well as men in any role. It’s about experience, not gender.”

Looking ahead, Bevin is focused on completing her law degree and continuing her work with the Women’s Network of Fianna Fáil, but politics may still be in her future.

“I’m audacious enough to consider it. The right support structures, mentorship, and training are crucial, though.”

Her advice to young women with political ambitions is powerful and resonates with a lot of the advice given by some of the most experienced politicians interviewed in this series.

“Value yourself and push. Your lived experience and insights are valuable. We as women are obligated to reflect and rectify this under-representation, and it starts by getting involved.

"I was raised by women who were powerhouses. I’d love to see a woman take a seat in my area, and that comes with supporting other women also, all of that will help to bridge the gap."

However, she stresses: “If Fianna Fáil ran all female candidates at the next election, it is still up to the voters to decide.”

For Bevin Maloney, she is keen to complete her studies in Trinity College, intending to become a barrister herself.

The 2029 local elections may come too soon for her for personally, but for the many thousands of women in the Swinford electoral area who have never seen a female peer make the steps into the council chamber from their neck of the woods, there is a safety in knowing that the face of politics in Mayo is changing.

Their partners at the municipal district level Claremorris, learned that swiftly, like buses, two women appeared almost 70 years after Mal O'Sullivan's unsuccessful ICA jaunt in 1967.

Last June, Alma Gallagher made history, then Deirdre Lawless’ co-option six months later doubled the number of women in the Claremorris area.

Earlier pioneers like Beverley Flynn, Eanya Egan, Lisa Chambers, Michelle Mulherin and the late Margaret Adams did their utmost to attract more women into public life.

It will eventually happen, however, as change can strike fast.

(A podcast mini-series accompanies this article - you can listen on Spotify and all streaming platforms, just search for All-Ireland Whingers).

*Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.