Holly Cairns: 'I really feel like now is the time that the tide is turning in Irish politics'

Cork's only woman TD on her political career so far and the future for the Social Democrats under her leadership

Holly Cairns giving her maiden speech as leader of the Social Democrats on Wednesday. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins

Holly Cairns is a politician who has been surprised by politics. But even more surprisingly, she is willing to admit it.

It has been a sharp learning curve and an even steeper rise to leadership for the Cork South-West TD, who was first elected at local level just four years ago and now finds herself at the helm of the Social Democrats.