A veteran of Base Camp on Mount Everest, Donna McGettigan is scaling new heights with her election to the Dáil at her first attempt.

Ms McGettigan (52) is a native of Belfast and the eldest of six children and moved down to Shannon town with her family at the age of six.

A keen hiker who has scoliosis, Ms McGettigan has hiked up Ben Nevis in Scotland and reached Base Camp on Mount Everest and credits team-work as the main factor behind her hiking achievements.

She joined Sinn Féin at the age of 16 but didn’t attain public office until February 2020 when she was co-opted onto Clare County Council and retained her seat in June’s local elections.

A mother of one son, Ms McGettigan also has a step daughter just three years younger than her and lost her husband, Noel Phelan to cancer in March 2021.