Nora Bennis, R.I.P.

14.02.2019

The death has taken place in Limerick of Nora Bennis. The 78–year-old mother-of-four was known as a formidable political opponent who campaigned on pro-life issues and championed traditional Catholic values. Mrs Bennis stood in the European elections in 1994 securing over 18,000 first preference votes, and also stood for the Dáil in 1997, in the 1998 by-election, in 2002, and, most recently, in 2016, in the Limerick city constituency. In the mid 1990’s, she made national headlines when she led protests against a “sex shop” which had opened on Limerick’s Ellen Street.

Mrs Bennis founded Women Working at Home and the Irish Mothers Working at Home Association in the 1990s as a support network for housewives who felt isolated or ignored.

She became leader of the Solidarity Movement alliance of independent political candidates, in 1994. The movement was involved in the campaign against divorce ahead of the 1995 referendum. Following that referendum, Mrs Bennis founded the National Party, later named the Christian Democrats. Ahead of the 2002 abortion referendum, the organisation became involved with a new alliance of pro-life campaigners calling for a no vote in the referendum of that year.

In 2009, she was among a number of unsuccessful challengers to the result of the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Mrs Bennis was later involved with the Alliance of Parents against the State, which was set up in 2012 to oppose an amendment to the constitution on children’s rights.

She was married to the late Gerry Bennis, a member of the legendary Bennis hurling dynasty from Patrickswell. She is survived by her daughters Gráinne, Muirne and Aedín and son Rory.

RTÉ. February 11. The Irish Times. February 12. Limerick Leader. February 11. Irish Examiner. February 12.