Episode With Richie Sadlier: Holly Cairns TD

In 2018, Holly Cairns was 28 years old and had voted once in her life. In the five years since,  she’s been elected to Cork County Council, then to Dáil Eireann and in the last twelve months has become leader of the Social Democrats. 

Earlier this year, having previously been vocal about the targeted abuse she and other female TDs are regularly subjected to, Holly spoke for the first time about that abuse – normally faceless and online – escalating into a real-world situation where a man began showing up at her home in West Cork. 

Holly Cairns profile: Next Social Democrats leader is seen in the party as commanding a broad appeal while her national profile was built on debates on issues like domestic violence, abortion, mother & baby homes. Lately she spoke on abuse of politicians https://t.co/NkLDv9dyfC

— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 28, 2023

She speaks to Richie from her family farm about how that experience changed the way she lives day to day, why she decided that talking about abuse to journalists anonymously stopped making sense, and the dilemma she faces as the leader of a political party about when to be open and when to keep quiet. 

Episode is brought to you by NOW and is a Second Captains production. 

Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. To support the development of series like Episode and longer-form work like our recent international series, ‘Where Is George Gibney?, you can join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. 

For ages I only knew Richie's name as that of my go-to first signing on Championship Manager 01/02, then as a pundit, had no idea he was a psychotherapist. I've tried both episodes of Episode & they're really thought-provoking discussions on dealing with the events of one's past. https://t.co/hFi8AZVeeZ

— JH (@iamhighlystrung) October 29, 2023