▁but ▁moved ▁to ▁Le ix lip ▁in ▁County ▁K ild are ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁Her ▁husband ▁is ▁D erek ▁Mur phy , ▁together ▁they ▁have ▁two ▁children . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁ ▁Work ers ' ▁Party ▁and ▁Democratic ▁Left ▁Origin ally ▁becoming ▁involved ▁in ▁politics ▁through ▁campaign s ▁against ▁high ▁local ▁service ▁charges ▁in ▁Le ix lip , ▁she ▁joined ▁the ▁Work ers ' ▁Party ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁She ▁first ▁held ▁political ▁office ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁when ▁she ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁Le ix lip ▁Town ▁Commission . ▁She ▁stood ▁un success fully ▁as ▁a ▁Work ers ' ▁Party ▁candidate ▁for ▁the ▁Le in ster ▁constitu ency ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁European ▁Parliament ▁election ▁and ▁for ▁the ▁K ild are ▁constitu ency ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁general ▁election . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁she ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁K ild are ▁County ▁Council ▁for ▁the ▁Cel bridge ▁local ▁elect oral ▁area . ▁When ▁the ▁Work ers ' ▁Party ▁split ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁she ▁followed ▁Pro in si as ▁De ▁Ross a ▁into ▁the ▁new ▁Democratic ▁Left , ▁and ▁stood ▁un success fully ▁as ▁a ▁Democratic ▁Left ▁candidate ▁in ▁K ild are ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁general ▁elections . ▁ ▁She ▁opposed ▁Democratic ▁Left ' s ▁mer ger ▁with ▁the ▁Labour ▁Party ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁critic ising