THREAD
Mary Tinney (born 1924 Scotland). Moved to Ireland with her Irish parents & initially settled in Louth, but following her father's early death, the family moved to Dublin, where her mother worked as a teacher.
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#IrishWomenInHistory #NollaigNamBan

Mary was a bright student & on finishing secondary school she attended #UCD, from which she graduated with honours. She began her diplomatic career in #London, after which she was stationed in #Stockholm; she became fluent in Swedish. 2/6 #IrishWomenInHistory #NollaigNamBan

As her reputation grew, her career progressed. Mary worked in the #Irish diplomatic service in #Paris, and with the #OECD. From 1970 to 1973, she was in charge of cultural affairs in #Dublin.
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#IrishWomenInHistory #NollaigNamBan

In 1973, Mary Tinney became Ireland's first ambassador when she was appointed Ambassador to #Sweden. She subsequently served as Ambassador in #Belgium and in #Kenya.
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#IrishWomenInHistory #NollaigNamBan

It's important to note that for much of Mary's career, a marriage bar banned married women from public sector jobs (excep primary school teachers after 1957). Irish women wanting to marry had no choice but to give up their careers in the public sector.
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#IrishWomenInHistory

The marriage bar was repealed in 1973, the year Mary was appointed to Stockholm. Mary would not have been able to have the diplomatic career at which she excelled if she had chosen to marry. Mary was a trailblazer for women in the Irish diplomatic service
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