Congratulations are in order for Social Democratic leader Holly Cairns, who is expecting her second child.
She shared the news on social media with a photo of her first-born holding a sonogram of her soon-to-be brother or sister.
“Some news: A little brother or sister on the way,” she wrote alongside the post.
A statement from her party soon followed, which said: “I am so happy to announce that we are expecting our second child.
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“Barry and I are so excited and feel extremely lucky to be able to raise our family in West Cork.
“I have always said that having a family should not be disqualifying for a political party leader and I am very grateful to have the support of our parliamentary party and my constituents in Cork South-West.”
She also confirmed that Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan will step in as acting leader when Ms Cairns begins her maternity leave in October.
Holly became leader of the Social Democrats in March 2023 after party co-founders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy stepped aside.
She previously announced she was pregnant with her first child in 2024 and gave birth to a baby girl on polling day of the general election that year.
Holly has also been open in the past about suffering several miscarriages on her pregnancy journey.
Appearing on Miriam O’Callaghan’s radio show, she shared: “It is something that we know happens to quite a lot of people. I think it is one in three women experience it, and we just do not hear a lot about it.”
