Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE DStJ DDL (Hon QUB) was born in 1960, and has enjoyed a highly successful career in Public Affairs, PR and Marketing. In 1991, she founded Jay Associates Public & Government Affairs, Northern Ireland’s first independent consultancy in this area. Since then she has worked throughout GB, Ireland, Europe and the USA.
For many years, Fionnuala has been involved in public and voluntary service. She was the first woman to chair Belfast Civic Trust, and also founded and remains a working director of The Belfast Buildings Trust. She is a UK Trustee of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust and has served on the Historic Buildings Council, The Irish Landmark Trust and the board of The Architectural Fund.
Having trained as a singer, she is Vice Chair of Northern Opera and a patron of Teachers of Singing in Ireland. She is also a member of the Historic Royal Palaces Advisory panel on Hillsborough Castle, and retains strong links with many community and charitable organisations.
Fionnuala is married to Richard Jay, retired senior lecturer in Politics.
She was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant in 2009, and became Lord Lieutenant in July 2014.
She was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant in 2009, and became Lord Lieutenant in July 2014.