Georgina Frost

GEORGINA FROST (1879-1939)

This portrait depicts Georgina Frost’s ground-breaking achievement. In 1919 she became the first woman to hold public office in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Georgina’s appointment as Petty Sessions Clerk was initially rejected by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland who cited British law that a woman was ‘not a proper person’. Georgina brought her case to the British courts three times before her victory before the House of Lords in 1919.

This portrait shows objects relating to Georgina’s life: her bicycle, satchel, items from her job, workplace of Newmarket-on-Fergus Courthouse, rugby ball, tweed, and her village of Sixmilebridge.

Oil on canvas.
50 X 50 cm