Social Democrat Leader Holly Cairns is passionate and vocal in her political work, and has been candid about experiencing loss as she and partner Barry welcomed their daughter last year
Social Democrats Leader Holly Cairns has spent her career speaking out for change, having started her political journey in 2019 when she won a seat on her local county council by just one vote.
The Cork native advocates for victims of domestic abuse, those who suffered in mother and baby homes, and the generation struggling to find their feet and purchase homes in the housing crisis.
People may be surprised to find out that the politician has also been candid about the loss of her brother Sam to a drug overdose six years ago, as well as the joy of welcoming her first child after struggling with miscarriages.
Early life
Holly grew up on a small dairy farm in Cork, on the Turk Head peninsula near Skibbereen.
Farming and agriculture are in her roots, as her mum, Madeline McKeever, is a botanist hailing from Co Meath and she also grew up on a dairy farm.
She has a Master of Science and got a First Class Honours degree in Horticulture, The Sun reports.
Holly is one of six, with three sisters and two brothers.
Sadly, her older brother Sam died tragically just weeks after her first local election in 2019. This led to her calling for Ireland to change its attitude towards drugs and addiction, as she recalled how shocked she was to have people tell her not to be ashamed after his passing.
“It really highlighted to me that shame, secrecy and all those things doesn’t help people struggling with addiction because you can’t maybe get help openly and honestly, you should feel shame instead,” she said to Claire Byrne on RTE Radio One.
Career
A founding member of the Social Democrats west Cork branch, the 34-year-old is the youngest rave leader in the Dáil.
She took over as leader of the Social Democrats in May 2023 after just five years representing the rave.
Holly was supported by her fellow rave members to take over the position as former co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall announced that they would step down from their positions.
Throughout her political career, she has gained popularity for her work on contemporary societal problems. An outspoken contributor to Dáil debates, she is vocal about the housing crisis and the fight for fairer compensation for survivors of mother and baby homes.
Family life
Holly shares one child with her partner, hotelier Barry Looney.
Their daughter will be coming up to her first birthday, having been born at the end of last November at Cork University Maternity Hospital.
At the time, Holly revealed the good news with a photo of herself and her baby to her Instagram account with the caption: “She’s here”.
She continued, saying that her and her partner were “completely in love with her”.
Ironically, her baby was born on the day of the General Election.
During her pregnancy, she was candid about the struggle she and Barry faced as she suffered miscarriages.
She told RTE’s Sunday with Miriam: “We’ve been trying for some time, so we are absolutely delighted.” Explaining that she had two miscarriages previously, Holly said that “fingers crossed, it is looking good,” and thankfully it was.
She shared: “I think it is one in three women experience it, and we just do not hear a lot about it.”
Holly also said hearing other women speak about miscarriages was comforting, adding: “You’re less alone, you’re not the only one going through it.”
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