Conway-Walsh grew up in Ballycroy, County Mayo and is one of nine children. She attended primary school in Ballycroy before attending Our Lady's Secondary School in Belmullet.[4] She moved to London when she was 19. On returning to Ireland, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in public management and a Master's degree in Local Government from NUI Galway.[5] Prior to entering politics, she worked in community development.[6]
Political career
Conway-Walsh has been a member of Sinn Féin's Ard Comhairle since 1990.[6] She founded the Sinn Féin Mayo Women's Movement in response to the lack of women in politics.[7]
In 2009, she was elected to Mayo County Council for the Belmullet local area, becoming the first female councillor ever elected in Belmullet.[6] She was re-elected in 2014, topping the poll and being elected on the first count.[8]
She was elected to the Seanad in 2016, topping the poll in the Agricultural Panel and being deemed elected on the first count.[9]
She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Mayo constituency at the 2011 and 2016 general elections,[10] before winning election in 2020. Conway-Walsh is the first Sinn Féin TD to represent County Mayo in almost 100 years; the last Sinn Féin TD to be elected in Mayo was John Madden in June 1927.[11]