A Charleston native, Ireland made history in 2004 as the first woman elected to West Virginia's executive branch as Secretary of State. With a background in teaching, business, and public service, she gained experience as a business owner and executive director of the West Virginia Consolidated Retirement Board.

Ireland served one term on the Charleston City Council and then became Secretary of State, where she focused on modernizing the state’s election system, including advocating for touch-screen voting technology.