Born Mary O'Connor in Milltown, County Galway. She graduated from Carysfort College and NUI, Maynooth, and worked as a teacher. She was appointed principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, County Meath. In 1999, she became school principal at The Harold School, Glasthule, a position she held until her election to the Dáil. She lives in Cabinteely, Dublin. She is divorced and has two sons from her marriage.
In 2004, as a Progressive Democrats candidate, she was elected to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. As a Councillor, she campaigned against the reintroduction of university fees, against the budget-related increase in pupil-teacher ratios. She also took part in the SandycoveTidy Towns campaign. In 2006, when the Maritime Museum closed, she called on the council to financially support it. In December 2007, she resigned from the Progressive Democrats and joined Fine Gael. Welcoming her to the party, Enda Kenny said that it was "the first move by a Progressive Democrats public representative to join an alternative party since the general election". Mitchell O'Connor said that she "made a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me". In 2008–09, she was Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Transport, Economic Development and Planning. In June 2009, she was re-elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. She was the Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Environment, Housing, Culture, Community Development and Amenities. She has led campaigns to protect public amenities in Dún Laoghaire, including public access to the sea front, public transport, and she campaigned to prevent the acquisition of Dún Laoghaire baths by private companies. In 2010, she led the Save the Sandycove Green Campaign against adding more parking spaces to Sandycove Green.
Dáil Éireann: 2011–2020
In December 2010, she was selected as a Fine Gael candidate for the Dún Laoghaire constituency. Mitchell O'Connor was elected as a TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency at the 2011 general election. The newly elected Fine Gael TD surprised staff at Leinster House on 2 March 2011, by driving her campaign car across the pedestrian plinth in the Dáil car park and down the steps. The plinth has a ramp at one side to facilitate wheelchair access, but steps at the other end. The incident was witnessed by several journalists and was reported on by the RTÉ evening news. On 8 June 2015, Mitchell O'Connor was selected by Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael as their candidate to contest the next general election at a selection convention. She defeated councillors Barry Ward and Maria Bailey, daughter of John Bailey, although Bailey was later added to the ticket and was also elected. She came through and, after a delay due to talks on government formation, was appointed Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in May 2016. After Leo Varadkar was appointed Taoiseach in June 2017, she was not re-appointed to cabinet, but was instead given a junior ministerial role as Minister of State for Higher Education. This is a "super junior" role which allows her attend cabinet meetings, but does not have a vote. In the 2020 general election, O'Connor stood for re-election but lost her seat.
Campaigns and policies
Mitchell O'Connor is an advocate for women's rights. In August 2010, she called for a reform of Dáil Éireann, so that women can work efficiently there. She campaigned for the eviction of men who are perpetrators of domestic violence. In July 2011, Mitchell O'Connor turned Leinster House pink in aid of breast cancer. Mitchell O'Connor is pro-choice and supported repealing the Eighth Amendment. In November 2018, Mitchell O'Connor announced female only academic posts to increase the proportion of senior female academics in universities and institutes of technology in Ireland.
