Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has confirmed she is 16 weeks pregnant after undergoing fertility and sperm donation treatment, saying she hopes her personal journey may help other single women and those who are LGBTQI+ to become mothers if they wish to do so.
Ms Walsh, who has been an MEP for Midlands-North West since 2019 and spoke about her sexuality after winning the Rose of Tralee in 2014, revealed her news on RTÉ radio this morning.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 with Brendan O Connor, Ms Walsh said that she is 16 weeks pregnant after undergoing fertility and sperm donation treatment.
She said that as a 38-year-old single woman from the LGBTQI+ community, she was unsure if she would ever become a mother and has taken time to consider what this will involve.
However, she said she is looking forward to doing so and decided to speak about her journey as it may help other women and families going through the same or similar steps.
Ms Walsh said while she was initially told by one consultant whether she should "just go out and have some fun" as a young woman, a comment she said was offensive, she received significant help from her GP and a clinic in Connacht.
The Fine Gael MEP said she has received some criticism online over what she described as her changed appearance due to the treatment involved, but that the vast majority of people have been supportive of her decision.
Ms Walsh said she will be taking maternity leave later this year from her role as an MEP but will return to her European Parliament work in the months following this time.
