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| Presidency of Mary Robinson 9 November 1990 – 12 September 1997 | |
Mary Robinson | |
| Election | 1990 |
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Mary Robinson served as President of Ireland between 1990 and 1997. Ireland's first female president, Robinson was exceptionally popular in her role, becoming the most popular president in Irish history. Prior to her election, Robinson served seven terms as a senator, and concurrent with her time in Seanad Éireann she worked as a lawyer and an academic. Robinson resigned the presidency early to take up the position of High Commissioner of Human Rights with the United Nations.
Following a 20-year-long career in the Seanad, Robinson was elected to the presidency following one of the most controversial elections in the history of the Irish state. Robinson was largely seen as an underdog at the offset of the election, and her victory is often credited to major political gaffes made by the favourite to win the race, Brian Lenihan, and his election team.