Cian O’Callaghan, the deputy head of the Social Democrats, is slated to step into the role of party head during Holly Cairns’ maternity leave, Cairns confirmed following her pregnancy announcement. During her appearance on the RTÉ programme, Sunday with Miriam, she revealed that she might consider deferring her maternity leave if a general election is called unexpectedly.
Through an Instagram post on Saturday, the Cork South West TD informed her followers that she and her life partner, Barry Looney, are expecting a daughter. Cairns voiced her joy and relief at announcing the news which had “become increasingly difficult to conceal”.
She said,” I’m thrilled to announce that my partner and I are looking forward to becoming parents. This is something we’ve long desired, and we feel extremely fortunate.” Holly Cairns, who is 34, admitted to having some initial reservations about sharing the news, acknowledging that, like many others, their path to parenthood hadn’t been without complications.
Thankfully, she expressed optimism about this pregnancy and stressed her unique situation of balancing the demands of motherhood with leading a political party. Cairns said, “I am privileged to be a part of a party that passionately champions the rights of parents and strives to get #MoreMna into politics.” She also mentioned her appreciation for her excellent team.
Additionally, she indicated that the outstanding results from the previous weekend have increased her enthusiasm to guide the Social Democrats into future elections. Holly Cairns spoke openly about her experience with two miscarriages the previous year and the struggles they’ve faced while trying to conceive.
She noted, “Foolishly, we assumed we could time the pregnancy so that the child would be approximately a year old during a general election. We learned the cruel truth that things often don’t go as planned.” The politician emphasized the need for more open discussions about miscarriages and fertility challenges, stating that others’ shared experiences had offered her comfort and a sense of solace. “I believe it’s important that we talk more about it. It’s not easy,” she confessed.
Ms Cairns shared her delight at transcending the hazardous first trimester of her pregnancy, revealing she was presently 17 weeks pregnant with a daughter. Conventionally, expectant mothers share the news after the third-month scan, but her primary attention was the election, she disclosed. The young leader expressed her unwavering dedication to spearheading the party more than ever.
The youngest party leader in the Dáil, the west Cork native previously served in foreign disability services before returning to Cork to manage her family’s farm and business. She gained a footing in Cork County Council following her successful campaign in the 2019 local elections, and the subsequent year saw her elected as a TD. Her leadership of the Social Democrats started in March of the previous year.
Ms Cairns has represented her party in the Dáil, acting as the spokesperson for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Advanced Education, and Disability sectors. Her significant other, Barry Looney, belongs to a west Cork hotelier family that owns the prominent West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen.
In the recent elections, the Social Democrats greatly expanded their local authority representation, successfully doubling their seats from 19 to 35. They, however, were unsuccessful in securing a seat in the European elections. Despite this, Ms Cairns shared her immense pride in the exceptional campaigns led by Rory Hearne, Susan Doyle, and Sinead Gibney in Midlands North West, South Ireland, and Dublin, respectively.
She acknowledged the significant “edge” possessed by other parties, carrying renowned names and incumbent TDs in vast constituencies, making it challenging for their candidates to emerge victorious. She reiterated her disinterest in merging with Labour, even after securing some of their votes through transfers. Firmly focused on party growth, she pointed out the decrease in Labour’s seats juxtaposed with their doubling. She firmly concluded that a merger is not an option they’re considering or desire.