'Really annoyed' Holly Cairns criticises Eoin Hayes for 2009 Barack Obama blackface costume

At her first doorstep with journalists since her return from maternity leave, Ms Cairns said it was 'embarrassing' for the Social Democrats after the images of Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes in blackface were published

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns speaks to the media at her party's annual think-in. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said it is “undoubtedly a difficult time” for her party, after a TD it had previously suspended had photos published of him wearing blackface at a party during his college days.  

At her first doorstep with journalists since her return from maternity leave, Ms Cairns said that she was “really annoyed by the situation” and admitted it was “embarrassing” for the Social Democrats after the images of Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes were published.