Rita Childers
Encyclopedia
Margaret "Rita" Childers (née
Dudley) (February 1915 – 9 May 2010) was the second wife of Erskine Hamilton Childers
, the fourth President of Ireland
(1973–1974). She formerly worked as a press attaché
in the British Embassy in Dublin. She married Childers, who was then a senior Fianna Fáil
politician and government minister, in 1952.
tried to discourage them from marrying. They eventually opted to marry in Paris
. (McQuaid reportedly later apologised to the couple for his behaviour.)
Erskine was elected President of Ireland in June 1973. An acclaimed president, the popular Childers died suddenly in November 1974. The political parties secretly agreed a deal to make Mrs Childers the new president. However a political dispute, in which a partially deaf Fine Gael
minister in the National Coalition
government, Tom O'Donnell
, misheard a journalist's question about Mrs Childers and confirmed that she would be the next president; this led the plan to collapse. Her late husband's political party, Fianna Fáil, withdrew its support for her and instead proposed former Chief Justice Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
. Ó Dálaigh was eventually elected unopposed as the joint nominee of the government and main opposition parties. (See: Irish presidential election, 1974
)
Having left Áras an Uachtaráin
(the presidential residence) Mrs Childers became an outspoken critic both of her late husband's former colleagues in Fianna Fáil, and of the office of president. Following the resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
as president in October 1976, Mrs Childers called for the office's suspension.
Rita and Erskine Childers' daughter, Nessa
, entered politics in 2004 when she was elected as a councillor on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
for the Green Party
. Rita Childers' stepson, Erskine Barton Childers (her husband's son by his first marriage to Ruth Ellen Dow) served as a senior official in the United Nations
.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Dudley) (February 1915 – 9 May 2010) was the second wife of Erskine Hamilton Childers
Erskine Hamilton Childers
Erskine Hamilton Childers served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974. He was a Teachta Dála from 1938 until 1973...
, the fourth President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
(1973–1974). She formerly worked as a press attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
in the British Embassy in Dublin. She married Childers, who was then a senior Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician and government minister, in 1952.
Early life
Born as Margaret Dudley, her father was James John Dudley; she had an older brother, John Marshall Dudley.Life as Mrs. Childers
The couple's mixed marriage (Erskine Hamilton Childers was an Anglican, she a Roman Catholic) caused some controversy; the then Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaidJohn Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
tried to discourage them from marrying. They eventually opted to marry in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. (McQuaid reportedly later apologised to the couple for his behaviour.)
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
minister in the National Coalition
Government of the 20th Dáil
The 20th Dáil was elected at the 1973 general election on 28 February 1973 and first met on 14 March when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed...
government, Tom O'Donnell
Tom O'Donnell
Thomas G. O'Donnell is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. He was born at Bulgaden, County Limerick and was educated at the Crescent College, Salesian College and University College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree...
, misheard a journalist's question about Mrs Childers and confirmed that she would be the next president; this led the plan to collapse. Her late husband's political party, Fianna Fáil, withdrew its support for her and instead proposed former Chief Justice Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh served as the fifth President of Ireland, from 1974 to 1976. He resigned in 1976 after a clash with the government. He also had a notable legal career, including serving as Chief Justice of Ireland.- Early life :Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, one of four children, was born on 12 February...
. Ó Dálaigh was eventually elected unopposed as the joint nominee of the government and main opposition parties. (See: Irish presidential election, 1974
Irish presidential election, 1974
The Irish presidential election of 1974 resulted from the sudden death in office of President Erskine H. Childers. Initially all parties secretly agreed to nominate the late president's widow, Rita Childers...
)
Having left Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
(the presidential residence) Mrs Childers became an outspoken critic both of her late husband's former colleagues in Fianna Fáil, and of the office of president. Following the resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh served as the fifth President of Ireland, from 1974 to 1976. He resigned in 1976 after a clash with the government. He also had a notable legal career, including serving as Chief Justice of Ireland.- Early life :Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, one of four children, was born on 12 February...
as president in October 1976, Mrs Childers called for the office's suspension.
Rita and Erskine Childers' daughter, Nessa
Nessa Childers
Nessa Maria Vereker Childers is an Irish Labour Party politician who is currently a Member of the European Parliament for the East constituency....
, entered politics in 2004 when she was elected as a councillor on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. It serves a population of...
for the Green Party
Green Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
. Rita Childers' stepson, Erskine Barton Childers (her husband's son by his first marriage to Ruth Ellen Dow) served as a senior official in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.