Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns announces pregnancy

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has announced that she is expecting a baby girl.

The Cork South-West TD shared the news on Instagram, saying she is “overjoyed to let you know that my partner Barry and I are expecting a baby”.

“We are so happy and feel so lucky because this is something we have wanted for a long time,” Ms Cairns wrote.

Ms Cairns said she was “delighted” to share the news, adding that she was “initially hesitant because like so many other couples hoping to start a family, ours has not been a straightforward journey”.

“But all the signs look good for this pregnancy so we are really hopeful,” she said.

Ms Cairns was a first-time TD when she took over as leader of the Social Democrats in 2023, becoming the youngest leader of a political party in Ireland.

In the social post, Ms Cairns described her position as leader of the Social Democrats as “unique”, acknowledging that she is “definitely not the first woman to juggle work and a baby”.

“That’s why more than ever, I feel very grateful to belong to a party who are so supportive of parents and passionate about making sure we get more mná into politics,” she added.