Life after politics can bring relief but transition is not always easy

Irish Examiner

19-05-2025

How as taoiseach do you go from a schedule that is packed with world leader engagements, media briefings, Dáil questions, and international travel to nothing?
'I'm calling it a gap year, where I have a chance to try lots of different things,' said Leo Varadkar as he prepared to scale South Africa's Drakensberg mountains as part of a survivor-style TV programme with Cork popstar Lyra.
Last year's election saw a significant level of attrition, some politicians leaving on their own terms, others being ejected from Leinster House by the voters.
Mr Varadkar was among 30 TDs who announced that they would not be running in another election ahead of November's poll, accounting for more than 18% of Dáil members.
A further four TDs, Barry Cowen, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Michael McNamara, and Kathleen Funchion, had won seats in the European Parliament so bowed out of national politics, while former finance minister Michael McGrath was elevated to the EU Commission.
Another 26 politicians, including former health minister Stephen Donnelly and former minister for culture Catherine Martin ran to retain their seats but failed to get re-elected. Both have been keeping a low profile since leaving Government Buildings.
The transition out of the Leinster House bubble can come as a significant shock, and not all former politicians land on their feet with highly paid lobbying roles as is sometimes the assumption, although many do.
'I've started driving again only in the last two or three weeks after, I don't know, like 13 years,' said Mr Varadkar, who had become accustomed to having a driver as part of the job, admitting in the RTÉ documentary to struggling with the ignition.
In the six months since the general election, Mr Varadkar has kept busy with multiple trips to the US where he has been appointed spring 2025 Hauser Leader at Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership and has become an adviser with Washington-based PR company Penta.
He is also writing an autobiography, due to be published in the autumn.
'I can be myself more'
'I don't have to care about what the media think, or what the party thinks, or even what the voters think, so I can just be myself more,' said Mr Varadkar.
Others who have left political life include former government chief whip Paul Kehoe, who recently joined the board of directors of Wexford Food Producers Network.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil stalwart Éamon Ó Cuív has been inaugurated as the 2025 president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge and has not ruled out a run for the Áras.
'I do think Fianna Fáil should have a candidate,' Mr Ó Cuív told the Galway Advertiser. 'If they were to ask me? I'd have to think about it; but I'm not looking for it.'
In a turn of events, Denis Naughten has rejoined the Fine Gael party, confirming this during an emotional address at a party selection convention to fill his late brother John's seat on Roscommon County Council in February.
Mr Naughten left Fine Gael in 2011 over the closure of Roscommon's emergency department, but continued to serve until last year as an Independent.
Among the wave of Green Party members to lose their seats was former junior minister Joe O'Brien who has been appointed executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
Former Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan is now 'quietly doing some work for a few clients' in the sustainable construction consulting area but is spending a lot more time with her children.
'I can't complain, which is saying something since I was very sorry to lose the seat,' said Ms Hourigan.
Others who lost seats are back in politics through the Seanad route including Anne Rabbitte, Chris Andrews, Malcolm Noonan, and Pauline Tully.
A sense of relief to be off the public representative hamster wheel is the common feeling among departed TDs, but life after politics is also a major transition which has not been universally easy.
Patrick Costello: 'A lot of activism to do still'
Adjusting to life after losing your seat can be frustrating as former Green Party TD Patrick Costello is learning.
'When you're in the Dáil it's deeply frustrating, but it's better to be inside and pissed off than outside and pissed off,' he says.
'It's frustrating, because there's still so many things you care about, you get into politics to change things, to make things better, and it's trying to find other outlets for that now.
Patrick Costello: Trying to find other outlets to change things.
'There are plenty of times you see something and think 'I should be raising that, that's perfect for QPL [questions on promised legislation], that's perfect for a topical issues' and it's like, 'well, I haven't got access to that anymore'.
'The thing is, we're all still very committed, so there's still a lot of campaigning and activism to do. You're a little freer to speak when you're not in Government as well, which helps.'
However, he is relieved to now have the luxury of not being obliged to use social media sites which he says can be a 'cesspit'.
He is on the hunt for a job, but has enjoyed the extra time with his family.
Joe McHugh: 'I'm going into business'
Former education minister Joe McHugh is now preparing to enter the private sector.
He is completing his dissertation as part of the final stages of a course in positive health coaching.
'I planned for the transition a couple of years ago when I started my master's,' he said. 'So that's going to be completed in the next few weeks.
'I'm going from a world as a public servant to business. It will be a big transition, but I'm really, really excited and looking forward to that.'
In Government, Mr McHugh faced a backlash when he was appointed to the Gaeltacht brief by Enda Kenny without having a proper grasp of the language. However, he endeavoured to become fluent during his time in office and has now published a book on reconnecting with the cúpla focal.
'Like everything in life, once something ends there can be a void and certainly the book was great from that point of view as it allowed me to reconnect. I had a launch in Dublin, a launch in Donegal, one in Galway. It allowed me to reconnect, and to keep the connections up.
Joe McHugh: 'Looking forward to the transition.'
'It was a way of staying relevant as a opposed to going off the side of the cliff of politics.'
Mr McHugh says he has no regrets about his time in politics, but adds: 'What you sign up to as a politician is two words — public representative.
'You are the representative of people and that requires a vigilance 24/7, you have to be attentive, you have to be there, you have to be available.
'So I suppose the private life gets clouded. So the big transition for me is now, all of a sudden, I have a private life that I'm absolutely valuing.'
Seán Sherlock: 'I'm getting to do the normal stuff'
Former Labour Party TD Seán Sherlock has started a part-time master's in maritime law and has also dipped his toe in a 'small bit of consultancy work' for a local company.
'Life is good,' he said, adding that he is finally getting to do the 'normal stuff' in life.
Seán Sherlock: Seeing my kids grow up in real time is a privilege.'
In making the announcement not to stand for election again in October 2023, Mr Sherlock, who had served as a TD for Cork East since 2007, admitted that the impact of the Electoral Commission's constituency boundary changes had influenced his decision to walk away from political life.
The redraw of the constituencies resulted in Mr Sherlock's home base of Mallow being moved from Cork East into Cork North Central.
'I'm very happy with my choice, I have no regrets, I'm spending a lot more time with my wife and kids. I am finding more time for the normal family things in life.
'I am seeing my kids growing up in real time which is an enormous privilege.'
Mr Sherlock says the juggle now is about co-ordinating underage match drop-offs and running clubs.
After 17 years of being in public life, he says, he did not realise the level of stress associated with the job, which was '24/7' until he stood back.
'Life has moved on and it's a different pace of life.'
Ciaran Cannon: 'I miss aspects of it but am having a ball'
Former minister of state Ciarán Cannon thought he was done with manifestos until he found himself writing up one for his newest gig.
The Galway native was this month ratified as Cycling Ireland president for the next three years.
He has also found a new day job with Alison.com, an online education company that has 50m learners across 193 countries, but which was founded by Mike Feerick who lives just 10 minutes away.
Ciarán Cannon is now Cycling Ireland president.
'We had several cups of tea when I announced I would be stepping down, so it was like a slow courtship,' he jokes.
'I knew I wanted to keep working,' said Mr Cannon, who will turn 60 later this year.
'There were two things I was not prepared to compromise on — the first was that it had to be fully remote, and the second is it had to have a major societal benefit.'
He now spends his working day at home, speaking to colleagues in Cape Town, Armenia, and Offaly and negotiating partnerships including a recent one with the Indian government.
'I miss aspects of it,' he says, pointing to his work as a junior minister, some of which he said was 'groundbreaking and really fulfilling'.
However, this was not the same when he reverted to the backbenches, which was a significant factor in his decision to leave politics.
Being away from politics has, along with cycling, allowed him to play and compose more music.
'I'm having a ball,' he says.