Patricia Ryan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ryan in 2022 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2020 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Kildare South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-03-03)3 March 1969 (age 56) Ballybrittas,County Laois, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Sinn Féin (until 2024) |
Patricia Ryan (born 3 March 1969)[1] is an Irish former independent andSinn Féin politician who served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theKildare South constituency from2020 to2024.[2]
Previous to entering politics, Ryan was a trade unionshop steward.[3] Between 2019 and 2020 Ryan was a member ofKildare County Council.[4]
At the 2020 general election, Ryan topped the poll in Kildare South,[5][6] despite taking a holiday during the campaign instead of canvassing.[7]
In December 2020, Ryan was criticised for having promoted9/11 conspiracy theories on her Facebook page back in 2015, including a post encouraging people to read a website that stated the US government detonated theTwin Towers in a false flag operation. Ryan later stated "I apologise for this Facebook post. It is not reflective of my views".[8]
In August 2022 Ryan contacted her constituents by post to warn them of potential “significant conflict” between themselves and Ukrainian refugees fleeing theRusso-Ukrainian War if modular homes were allowed to be built inNewbridge.[9] Ryan's letter stated "There is a concern that growing levels of homelessness and pending evictions in the areas where the modular units are being proposed could generate conflict...If this process is not managed right and the views of locally based representatives are not listened to, the potential for significant conflict with host communities is significant, which in turn could be exploited by small far-right elements". SenatorVincent Martin, also based in Kildare, expressed concerned that parts of the letter left "itself open to mixed messaging which has the potential to whip up a cold atmosphere of fear in the local community"[9] The Minister for IntegrationRoderic O'Gorman stated the modular homes were only a temporary measure being created to meet demand and that his department would engage with communities about any issues concerning refugees.
On 9 October 2024, Ryan resigned from Sinn Féin.[10][11] At the2024 general election Ryan lost her seat, securing just 678 first preference votes, a 93% drop in votes compared to her 2020 result.[12][13][14]