Career
Leonard was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency at the 1973 general election. He lost his seat at the 1981 general election but regained it at the February 1982 general election and retained it until retiring at the 1997 general election. She was then nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad.