Cynthia Ní Mhurchú facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
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Ní Mhurchú in 2024
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2024 |
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| Constituency | South |
| Personal details | |
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Cynthia Murphy
1966 (age 58–59) Carlow, Ireland |
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| Spouse | John Kavanagh |
| Children | 2 |
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Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (born 1966) is an Irish politician, lawyer, and former radio host. She has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency since July 2024. Before becoming an MEP, she was well-known for presenting the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Dublin alongside Gerry Ryan.
Early Life and Education
Cynthia Murphy was born in Carlow, Ireland, in 1966. Her parents were Brendan and Columba Murphy. When she was fifteen, she decided to use the Irish version of her family name, Ní Mhurchú. She went to school in Carlow and later studied to become a primary school teacher at Carysfort College.
Career Journey
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú began her career as a teacher in an Irish language school in Carlow. After teaching, she spent ten years working as a journalist and presenter for Irish broadcasters like RTÉ and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
During the 1990s, she presented the Lotto draw on RTÉ. She also hosted Cúrsaí, an Irish language news show. For many years, she wrote online articles about education, training, and different careers. After leaving RTÉ, she became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who represents people in court.
Political Path
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú joined the political party Fianna Fáil because she felt it strongly supported the Irish language. In 1992, the party asked her to run for election in Dublin South-East. However, she chose not to at that time because she wanted to focus on her law studies.
In 2024, Fianna Fáil chose her to run in the European Parliament election for the South constituency. She received many votes and was successfully elected as an MEP. An MEP is a person elected to represent their country in the European Parliament, which helps make laws for the European Union. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has described her political views as "centrist," meaning they are generally in the middle, leaning slightly to the left.
Personal Life
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is married to John Kavanagh, and they have two children. She is a fluent speaker of the Irish language.
See also
- List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters
