On The Anton Savage Show, broadcaster-turned-Senator Evanne Ni Chuilinn opened up about her unexpected journey from reporting sports to shaping policy in the Seanad.
Ní Chuilinn, who has previously spoken publicly about IVF, adoption, and her brother’s mental health, described how the move into politics came about.
“Last year I got a text message one random Tuesday evening from a former Fine Gael TD in Kilkenny asking if he could call over the following evening for a chat,” she recalled.
Ni Chuilinn admitted she had “genuinely never thought about” a political career but was intrigued when the former TD highlighted her advocacy work:
“When he started speaking about some of my interests and the fact that I was never very shy about expressing those interests, I started to think I should probably go inside and talk to my husband Brian.”
The process moved quickly.
“By the following evening he told me to keep my phone on because he thought Simon was going to ring me, and then it was just a whirlwind 12 hours and I was in his office the following morning,” she said.
After 20 years in broadcasting, including covering the Olympics and Paralympics, she explained why she was ready for a new challenge.
“I had just finished and I knew I was looking at four years of waiting for those to happen again, I have to be on my toes all the time, and if I don’t feel like I’m on my toes, I’ll go and find something to do.”
Ni Chuilinn has embraced the role of Senator, particularly in committee work.
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“Actually, that’s probably why I feel most comfortable in committee because you’re still asking the questions,” she said, noting the importance of concise and effective questioning.
“I feel like I have a duty to represent that in the Oireachtas, I have a very unique set of skills that I can bring,” the broadcaster said, highlighting her work on athletes’ welfare and the need for better support for amateur sportspeople.
On personal advocacy, she explained, “anytime I’ve spoken about things other people really appreciate when somebody with a profile comes out because they don’t feel as alone.”
She continued, “I don’t like brushing things under a carpet. I much rather be out in the open.”
Evanne Ni Chuilinn remains focused on her constituents in Dublin South Central.
“I haven’t felt like Crumlin has had a voice really in the Oireachtas, I’d love to be the voice for Crumlin,” she said, suggesting a potential future in politics while continuing her work as a public representative.
