Kathleen Funchion is strictly concentrating on Dáil business
The first-time TD who won a seat in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency for Sinn Féin is now hoping to make an impact in Leinster House by raising issues around childcare, housing, and health.
The Callan native was elected on the 10th count shortly after 11pm on Saturday.
However, she had to leave the centre mid-way through the count to perform a quick waltz in the nearby Lyrath Hotel in aid of charity.
“I was doing a strictly let’s dance for our local GAA club, John Locke’s GAA in Kilkenny,” she said.
“It was a charity event so I had signed up to it weeks ago and it fell on the same day as the count, luckily enough the hotel was next door to the count centre, so I went and I did my dance and did the opening part of the show and then came back to the count. It was a great distraction during the day,” Ms Funchion said.
She said that as a result her celebration pictures from the count centre involved “loads of hair and loads of make-up”.
Growing up she always had an interest in Irish history and first became involved in politics while studying for a degree in social science in Dublin.
“I would have had a trade union background. My dad worked for Siptu and I worked for Siptu up until the weekend, so there would have always been a sense of social justice in the house,” she said.
After missing out in the byelection last year she finally claimed a Leinster House seat on her fourth attempt after first running in the 2007 general election.
However, this time around the sitting councillor in Kilkenny City West polled 8,700 first preferences, which helped get her over the line.
She was joined at the count centre by deputy first minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness.
Coming from a trade union background she is interested in workers’ rights but would also relish the opportunity to act as a spokesperson on children’s rights, social protection or housing.
The mother of two young boys — Emmet who is nine and five-year-old Finn — is looking forward to a career in national politics but will also be making time for her children.
“Emmet was only three months old in the 2007 election and I was pregnant with Finn in the 2011 election so they have grown up with it. When they see a poster going up for anything they say ‘don’t tell me there is another election going on!’”
“I think it is about the quality of the time, you just have to keep going,” Ms Funchion said.
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