Politics

New Soc Dem leader Holly Cairns aims to help more women into politics

Cairns, at 33 the youngest leader of a party, says she hopes to reach 28 per cent of undecided voters, who may feel under-represented by the current system

Holly Cairns at home in her polytunnels where she grows fresh produce: said she hoped to reach people, especially those of her generation, who currently felt unrepresented or unheard by the modern political system. Picture: John Allen

Holly Cairns has said she wants to use her leadership of the Social Democrats to encourage more women to go into politics. Cairns, who is 33, became the youngest leader of a party in Dáil Éireann last week when she took over from Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall.

“I feel really strongly about having more women in Irish politics, and that is probably born out of how few there are,” she said. “I was attracted ...