The former RTÉ host, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has been selected to run for Fianna Fáil in the Ireland South European elections this coming summer. She will run alongside the party’s incumbent MEP, Billy Kelleher. Ní Mhurchú had a successful career in television as a journalist and presenter for a decade, which included co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 when Riverdance was first broadcast.
Beyond broadcasting, she has 27 years of experience in the legal field, with a focus on family law. Other noteworthy roles in her career include serving as a primary school teacher and bilingual broadcaster and journalist for various media outlets, such as RTÉ, Raidió na Gaeltachta, the Sunday Independent, and the Sunday Tribune.
Fianna Fáil officially acknowledged her addition to the Ireland South ticket, highlighting her strong connections to her hometown, Carlow, as well as the larger South East region. Expressing her enthusiasm for the selection, Ms Ní Mhurchú said, “I have reached a point in my professional journey where I am confident that my extensive skills and abilities, as well as my character, will be of benefit to the European Parliament. I have considerable expertise in education, mass media, and legal matters, with a deep commitment to Irish language, art, and culture.”
She declared her priorities to be acting as a powerful voice for the region in Europe, advocating for regional development, and supporting a fair transition for Ireland as it works towards its carbon goals. Additionally, she expressed a keen interest in family law and internet safety, particularly for young individuals, and pledged to work to promote Ireland and the South in the EU to ensure Irish-friendly policies are pursued and accomplished.
Responding to the new inclusion, Fianna Fáil’s Elections Director and Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien remarked: “Cynthia is an extremely skilled candidate, introducing a plethora of experience to the campaign. She has continuously shown her devotion towards public service and community throughout her career, thus making her an excellent representative for the region as MEP.”
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