One of the big success stories of the election, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan described the party's resurrection thanks to the election of two TDs as a story of a team of volunteers. Going from six TDs to none in 2011, the party slowly rebuilt the organisation. Ryan was a Minister in the doomed Fianna Fáil-led coalition. Previously a councillor, he ran for the European Parliament in 2014 but was pipped at the post by then Labour now Independent Nessa Childers.

Before full-time politics he ran a bicycle shop and cycling holiday business. He is married to journalist and author Victoria White and they have four sons.