Bríd Rodgers

Infobox Politician
name=Bríd Rodgers


width=144px


term_start=1998
term_end=2003
predecessor=
successor=
birth_date=birth date and age|1935|2|20|df=y
birth_place=Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland
constituency=Upper Bann
party=Social Democratic and Labour Party
office=MLA
spouse=
website= [http://www.sdlp.ie/party/albanmaginness.shtm SDLP profile]

Bríd Rodgers born Bríd Stratford (born 20 February, 1935 in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland)( _ga. Bríd Mhic Ruairí) is a former Irish nationalist politician.

Although born and brought up in the Republic of Ireland, she was politically active in Northern Ireland, where she was deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann.

Rodgers was educated in Monaghan and University College, Dublin, and has lived in Northern Ireland since 1960. She was involved in the Civil Rights Movement from 1965. She was a founder member of the SDLP, becoming Chairman in 1978 and General Secretary in 1981. In 1983 she was appointed to the Irish Senate by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, and served until 1987.

Rodgers was a leader of the SDLP team in the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the constituency of Upper Bann in June 1998. She was appointed to the first Northern Ireland Executive in November 1999 as Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, and remained in that position until the suspension of the Executive in October 2002. She became deputy leader of the SDLP in November 2001. She stood down as MLA at the Assembly elections of November 2003, and as deputy leader in February 2004, when she was replaced by Alasdair McDonnell.

Rodgers is married with six children.