Ann Louise Gilligan

Ann Louise Gilligan
Occupation Theologian
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Katherine Zappone (m. 2003)

Ann Louise Gilligan is a feminist theologian[1] who is currently working at Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra (part of Dublin City University). A former nun, she is the wife of Katherine Zappone T.D.. In Zappone and Gilligan v. Revenue Commissioners (2006), they unsuccessfully sought recognition of their Canadian marriage.

Gilligan is a former nun, a circumstance she credits with instilling in her the discipline to fulfill an academic career.[1] After leaving the convent, she worked in Spain and studied in Paris before being hired by St Patrick's College to teach theology in 1976.[1][2]

In 1981, while studying for her doctorate in theology at Boston College, she met and fell in love with fellow student Katherine Zappone. In September 2003, they married in Canada.[1] Together they fought Zappone and Gilligan v. Revenue Commissioners, which set off a decade of debate on marriage equality in Ireland. That case made global headlines.[3] Together they also founded An Cosán, Ireland's largest community education organisation.[4][5] An Cosán now houses three operations; The Shanty Education and Training Centre, an adult community education centre, Rainbow House, an early childhood education and care facility, and Fledglings, a social enterprise centre.[6] According to The Irish Times, An Cosán "was established by Gilligan and Zappone with the intention of bringing valuable community-based education to the Dublin suburb… Two years ago An Cosán attempted to track the progress of 1,500 past students and found 1,200 were employed."[7]

A former Director of the Educational Disadvantage Centre at St. Patrick's College, Gilligan is a former Member of the Statutory Committee on Educational Disadvantage.[8] In 2001, the Minister for Health asked her to form and chair the National Educational Welfare Board.[2] She later sat on the NEWB's Education Committee.[8]

Her academic work focuses on subjects like education and gender.[8] She enjoys cooking, theatre and reading. She has a BMW motorbike, which she uses to carry out the couple's weekly grocery shop each Saturday in Blessington.[1] She has been in The Samaritans and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.[1] She appeared with her spouse on an episode of Room to Improve in 2013.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dwyer, Ciara (19 October 2008). "Ann and Katherine say it loud". Sunday Independent.
  2. 1 2 "Ann Louise Gilligan". Archived from the original on 17 May 2015.
  3. Mullally, Una (12 December 2014). "The KAL case kickstarted a decade of debate on marriage equality". TheJournal.ie.
  4. "An Cosan Governance". AnCosan.com. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  5. Phelan, Angela (10 November 2007). "Stars pay tribute to the late Joan O'Hara".
  6. "The Shanty History". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  7. Hilliard, Mark (15 November 2014). "Changing lives with virtual education". The Irish Times.
  8. 1 2 3 "Ann Louise Gilligan". Dublin City University.
  9. "Room to Improve". 1 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015.

External links

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