Holly Cairns lives on her family farm on Turk Head Peninsula and gave birth to her first child, a daughter with her partner Barry Looney, on election day.

The 35-year-old worked in disability services in Malta for several years before returning home to take over the family farm and business growing and selling organic vegetable seeds.

She first became involved in politics while canvassing during the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, which inspired her to join the Social Democrats and establish a branch in west Cork.

In 2019 she won a local council seat in Bantry by a single vote. In 2020, she successfully contested the general election and quickly rose to national prominence in the Dáil. In 2023 she was unanimously elected as Social Democrats party leader.

Earlier this year, she led the party’s successful local election campaign, gaining an additional 16 seats nationally for a total of 34.