Mary Hand
Laois
Mary Hand was born and raised in Graiguecullen and is part of a long-established family with roots in Graiguecullen and the wider Laois area. She is a Secondary School Teacher in the constituency.
Mary was educated at St. Leo’s College in Carlow and went on to study science in Dublin City University, obtaining her Bachelors and Masters in the field.
She was party of the pilot working group set up in the University, which established the first Access Programme for students from disadvantaged areas, a model now replicated nationally.
Mary is currently the school steward for the ASTI union and prior to teaching, spent a number of years with Bórd na Móna and Unilever as a Business Executive. She also worked as a Business Development Manager in Eclipse Scientific in Portlaoise.
Mary has been politically active locally for a number of years and has experience in many initiatives in the community. She was the co-founder of the Barrowvale Residents’ Association and garnered a reputation for diligent and steadfast advocacy for her fellow residents.
