Law is an incredible background for politics because you are dealing with legislation all of the time. All the skills you use as a solicitor readily transfer into politics. Mary Hallissey interview in the Gazette.ie, July 2018.
MINISTER FOR CULTURE, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT
NOVEMBER 2017
From left to right; Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, President Michael D. Higgins, Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan.
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht outside Government Buildings.
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht launching The Creative Ireland Programme. 2017
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht launching The Creative Ireland Programme. 2017
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht launching the Markievicz Bursary Awards. 2018
Josepha Madigan appointed second citizen of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown as Leas Cathaoirleach with her family. 2015.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Director of Elections for the 38th Amendment to the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Bill.
Olivia Mitchell approached Josepha to run in the 2014 Local Elections: “I remember when she said it to me, I looked behind me to see was she talking to someone else.”
Despite her father having been involved in local politics, until then, Josepha had never considered getting involved in politics.
Josepha Madigan- Election Literature, 2014.
In May 2014 she became a Fine Gael Councillor for the Stillorgan Ward on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Leas-Chathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown until her election as a T.D.Chair of the Kilmacud/Foxrock Fine Gael Branch.
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Director of Elections for the 38th Amendment to the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Bill.
Josepha Madigan was first elected to Dáil Éireann on 26 February 2016 as the sole Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown. She entered the 32nd Dáil at the age of 45.
Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht signing the record of the on her first day in the Dáil. 2016.
Josepha Madigan Collection
She was one of 35 women elected overall and one of 11 female Fine Gael Deputies elected. Within three weeks she became one of the ten member negotiation team on the formation of government and worked on the programme for government.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny with TDs, Michael Noonan, Josepha Madigan and Simon Coveney at Government Buildings following talks between Fine Gael and Independents on forming a new government.
Independent News and Media
She was appointed Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight, July 1916-and served on this until November 2017
She was appointed as a Member of the Public Accounts Committee June 2016-July 2017.
She was a member of the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, July 2016-November 2017).
She served on the Committee on the Future of Health Care. June 2016.
In December 2017 Josepha Madigan was appointment to chair a subcommittee on the issue of gender equality.
She seconded the nomination of Leo Varadkar. She was appointed to Cabinet during her first term in office, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on 30 November 2017 by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar becoming the 19th female Cabinet Minister in Dáil Éireann.
President Michael D. Higgins presenting Joseph Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with her seal of office with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Maxwell Photography
Josepha Madigan was born in Dublin on 21 May 1969. She is the second eldest of six children of Patrick (Paddy) Madigan.
Josepha Madigan with her brother Patrick and sister Fenella.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Her father was solicitor originally from Mayo, and Patricia Callanan, a barrister originally from Clonmel, County Tipperary. Her mother was called to the bar in 1973 when Josepha was five.
Patricia Madigan with her family, on the day she was called to the bar. 1973.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Her mother continued to practice, and had two more children. Josepha grew up in Foxrock with her elder brother Patrick and four younger sisters Fenella, Vanora, Carleen and Edwina.
Family Portrait of the Madigan family following the birth of Edwina.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Firstly educated in the Sacred Heart, Monkstown, from the age of eight Josepha was educated in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, Mount Merrion.
Josepha Madigan aged 7.
Josepha Madigan Collection
While at school she developed a love of languages, and won prizes in French. She was also President of the ‘Needs of Our World’ society during her schooldays.
Madigan Family at the National Gallery of Ireland on the occasion of their family portrait being exhbited.
Josepha Madigan Collection
During her teenage years, her father, Paddy, was a local County Councillor for Fianna Fáil in Dublin Corporation. He served two terms representing the Blackrock Ward. He resigned from Fianna Fáil over property tax. Later he represented Dún Laoghaire County Council.
Paddy Madigan, Election Literature.
Alan Kinsella Collection
After school she went to Trinity College Dublin and studied for a Bachelor of Arts in French and German, later obtaining a Masters in the same subjects also at TCD.
Josepha Madigan, undergraduate Graduation from Trinity College Dublin, with her Mother Patricia Madigan.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Josepha Madigan, postgraduate Graduation from Trinity College Dublin.
Josepha Madigan Collection
When Josepha was in her twenties, he became an independent Councillor for the same area. Paddy Madigan ran in every election (with the exception of the Presidential Election). Josepha went out campaigning with him. She later recalled that he was the greatest influence on her, he was not afraid of anyone or anything.
Josepha Madigans father, Paddy.
Josepha Madigan Collection
In 1993 she went to work for her father, it was at that point Josepha realised she wanted to study law, and went to to the Law Society Dublin qualifying as a solicitor in 1997.
Josepha Madigan Graduation from the Law Society Ireland.
Josepha Madigan Collection
She specialised in family law, and joined the family firm in 2000 practising alongside her brother Patrick. She studied mediation practice and was one of the first to qualify in Ireland. In 2002 Josepha married Finbarr Hayes.
Josepha Madigan on her wedding day with her father, Paddy Madigan. 2002.
Josepha Madigan Collection
Josepha Madigan on her wedding day with her sisters, Fenella, Vanora, Carleen and Edwina.
Josepha Madigan Collection
They had two sons Daniel b.2004 and Luke b.2006.
Josepha Madigan and family, 2013.
Josepha Madigan Collection
When her sister Carleen was called to the bar in July 2005 the Madigan family made history, Josepha was a solicitor, her mother Patricia was a practising barrister, her father Paddy and her brother Patrick were also solicitors.
Patricia Madigan B.L., practicing Barrister; Patrick Madigan, solicitor; Carleen Madigan, called to the Bar on 20th July 2005; Josepha Madigan-Hayes, solicitor; Patrick J. Madigan Senior, solicitor.
Josepha Madigan Collection
She also qualified as a mediator and specialising in family laision, she became a Council Member of the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland. She also had a family law slot on Newstalk radio.
Her publications include Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Ireland - a handbook for family lawyers and their clients, Jordan Publishing, 2012. This was the first book on the subject.
Josepha Madigan presenting her Family Law book to President Michael D. Higgins in An Uachtaran, 2013.
Alan Kinsella Collection
Josepha was named Family Lawyer of the Year in 2014 at the Irish Law Awards.
Josepha was named Family Lawyer of the Year in 2014 at the Irish Law Awards.
Josepha Madigan Collection
In April 2014 Josepha’s father died after a long illness, he did not live to see her elected. She had discussed her plans and her decision to join Fine Gael. As she later recalled, he knew she had her own mind and she did not follow, and that she had decided herself what she wanted to do.
Josepha Madigan with her family when she was elected to Dáil Éireann, 2016.
Josepha Madigan Collection