Mary is the first name of all the women ministers in the Irish government and of the country's two women presidents to date. Such is the popularity of the name among Ireland's women political office holders that, children are inclined to believe that all presidents of the country are called Mary, says first time author Mary Banotti in her new book. The author sets out to find out what unites all the political Marys and what drives them to take the risks that are essential for success. Why do so many Marys emerge from a variety of families to take their place in public life in a country that had so few women in public life until relatively recently?
