Mary Robinson became the first female president of Ireland in 1990, made divorce legal and, halfway through her term of office, enjoyed a 93% popularity rating.
The United States could be just days away from electing its first ever female president if the dead heat polls see the vote tip in favour of democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
READ MORE: Melania Trump sparks wild 'body double bot' theory with this 'suspicious' fashion choice Like Ms Harris, she is fervently opposed to Donald Trump. She remains a member, saying of her resignation as chairman: “Part of leadership is knowing when to stand down and make space for others.” “I was definitely a tomboy and I felt that I had to compete with my brothers in running, in football, in any sport we were playing.
“Then in April Martin Luther King was assassinated. He was a hero of mine, and I was really devastated.“Those two violent killings were hugely impactful. It was a very idealistic time. This early experience laid the foundations for a sterling political career that, like Ms Harris, saw her championing women’s rights.
One example which backfired happened shortly before election day - at a time when papers had the two main candidates polling equally at 43% - when a leading politician from Fianna Fáil, called Padraig Flynn, went on a popular Saturday morning radio programme attacking her. “I was determined I was going to try and make a difference and speak truth to power,” said Mrs Robinson.
Later becoming a close ally of Nelson Mandela’s, she once said: “You’ve got to deal with every country, and you’ve got to deal with them as urgently and as honestly as possible. Quitting the presidency in 1997 to become UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the government said her resignation “was not unexpected.”
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