Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Irish pronunciation: [n̠ʲiː ˈwʊɾˠəxuː]; born 1966) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, barrister and former radio host with Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) who has served as a Member of the European Parliament for the South constituency since July 2024. She presented Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Dublin along with Gerry Ryan.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú | |
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2024 | |
| Constituency | South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cynthia Murphy 1966 (age 57–58) Carlow, Ireland |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | John Kavanagh[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
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Early life
editCynthia Murphy was born in Carlow. Her parents were Brendan Murphy and Columba Murphy (née Brophy). Her mother was involved in local Fine Gael politics in Carlow. She adopted the Irish language version of her surname, Ní Mhurchú, at the age of fifteen.[1] She attended Holy Family Askea Girls School, St Leo's College and Carysfort College, where she trained as a primary school teacher.[1]
Career
editNí Mhurchú initially worked as a teacher in an Irish language school in Carlow and then spent ten years working as a journalist and presenter in RTÉ, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and as a freelancer. During the 1990s, she presented RTÉ's Lotto draw and the Irish language current affairs broadcast, Cúrsaí.[2] She has also been a web columnist for several years and has written extensively on education, training and careers.
She became a barrister after leaving RTÉ.[3]
Political career
editNí Mhurchú joined Fianna Fáil as she felt it supported the Irish language.[4] In 1992, Ní Mhurchú was approached by the party to run in Dublin South-East in the 1992 Irish general election but declined the offer as she wanted to study for the bar.[1]
She was selected by Fianna Fáil to contest the South constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election.[5] Ní Mhurchú received 55,209 (8.0%) first preference votes and was elected on the 20th count.[6]
Ní Mhurchú has described her political views as "centrist, slightly left of centre."[7]
Personal life
editNí Mhurchú is married to John Kavanagh and has two children.[1] She is a fluent Irish speaker.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Slater, Sarah (17 March 2024). "Former RTÉ presenter Cynthia Ní Mhurchú to contest Euro elections". Carlow Nationalist. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Bannon Ward, Shauna (2 April 2024). "RTE star Cynthia Ni Mhurchu's new life with childhood sweetheart as she turns to politics". RSVP Live. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Catherine (16 October 2011). "Female TV Presenters: There is only one Queen Bee". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
Other female faces from the 1990s also moved on from their TV careers — among them Ciana Campbell who now works in PR in the west of Ireland, and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, now a barrister.
- ^ Sheridan, Kathy. "'Celebrity' election candidates: On the campaign trail with Ciaran Mullooly, Nina Carberry and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (7 March 2024). "Former RTÉ presenter Cynthia Ní Mhurchú to run for Fianna Fáil in European elections". The Irish Times.
- ^ "European Elections: South". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Fianna Fail's Ni Mhurchu 'humbled' with vote lining her up for MEP seat". www.limerickleader.ie. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ O'Connell, Hugh (7 March 2024). "From Eurovision to the European elections – a familiar RTÉ face has been recruited to run for Fianna Fáil". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
External links
edit- RTÉ profile
- Irish Law Library profile
- Personal profile of Cynthia Ní Mhurchú in the European Parliament's database of members
