Mary, traditionally the most popular name for girls in Catholic Ireland, transcended political, geographical and social boundaries (and as far as girl babies born today are concerned it is hardly ever considered.) . As one of the interviewed politicians (Mary Upton) said to Mary Banotti: They don t make Marys any more! Most Irish women who have achieved success in political life, including presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, have been called Mary. What is it about Mary? In the current government high-profile ministers with that name include Minister for Health, Mary Harney, Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin and Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan. Sixteen of the twenty-two women elected to Dail Eireann in the 2007 election are called Mary. Mary Banotti interviewed all the political Marys she could find to elicit their views on their name, their families, their political traditions and their aspirations. The result is an engaging, entertaining and informative book."
