Mother and baby home campaigner to run for Seanad

Maeve O'Rourke will run as an Independent against Fine Gael's Ray McAdam for the seat vacated by Seán Kyne after his election to the Dáil

Maeve O'Rourke is expected to be formally approved as a candidate by the Seanad returning officer on Friday. File photo

Thu, 15 Oct, 2026 - 18:01

Elaine Loughlin

Mother and baby home campaigner and academic Maeve O'Rourke is to run in the upcoming Seanad by-election as an Independent.

She is expected to be formally approved as a candidate by the Seanad returning officer on Friday and will run against Fine Gael's Ray McAdam for the seat vacated by Seán Kyne after his election to the Dáil.

Ms O'Rourke, who has been nominated by the Law Society, Irish Dental Association and Comhlámh, is expected to receive the backing of opposition parties and Independents but could also gain the support of a small number of Fianna Fáil members in what will be a secret vote.

Former Dublin Lord Mayor, Mr McAdam, ran in Dublin Central during the last general election, a constituency in which neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael has managed to win a seat.

One Fianna Fáil source indicated that providing Fine Gael with a Seanad platform will be a consideration in voting as it would effectively be "forgoing that seat for forever and a day".

However, another Fianna Fáil politician said they would not be voting for Ms O'Rourke, adding that the party has "nothing to gain" from it. Another source suggested that some in Fine Gael could also defect just for the "political craic of it", a claim flatly denied by another member.

Unlike a general election, voting in the Seanad by-election will only be open to members of the Oireachtas, meaning all 174 TDs and 60 senators are entitled to vote.

As a human rights lawyer and university lecturer, Ms O'Rourke who is the daughter of former RTÉ broadcaster Sean O'Rourke and is married to Labour TD Ciarán Ahern, has worked for nearly two decades with people affected by institutional and family separation issues.

It is understood that up to five people have submitted papers ahead of the deadline. One government source warned that if the by-election does come down to a two-horse race, it would not favour the coalition.

"It would not be ideal, the Government would prefer if there were more candidates in the field as it would split the opposition vote. If it's purely a race between Maeve and Ray, the numbers could be tight."