The former Rose of Tralee winner announced the news, hoping that her pregnancy journey will help other single women and those who are LGBTQI+ to become mothers if they would like to be
Maria Walsh MEP(Image: Getty Images)
Maria Walsh is getting ready to welcome her first child after undergoing IVF and fertility treatments.
The former Rose of Tralee winner, who is now a politician, said she is 16 weeks pregnant and hopes her journey will help other single women and LGBTQI+ people become mothers if they would like to.
The 38-year-old MEP for Midlands-North West and Fine Gael member told Brendan O Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 that she thought she might have miscarried at one stage as she experienced spotting and bleeding, but was relieved when a scan showed everything was okay.
“I’m privileged to say that right now, I feel incredibly healthy. My baby’s healthy. We’re on track, good size, great heartbeat,” she said.
Maria shared some pictures on social media of babygrows and a scan photo, captioning them: “Over the past 18 months, I’ve been navigating the highs and lows of IVF and fertility treatments. I have done this as a single woman who has always wanted to become a mother.
“Going through this process on my own hasn’t always been easy – but I want to show other women that it is possible. I am so grateful and excited to have reached this stage and hope to welcome a healthy, happy baby later this year.
“Families in Ireland today come in many different forms, which isn’t always reflected in our media or politics. I think it’s now time we have a conversation to change this.”
Maria won the Rose of Tralee back in 2014 and was the first gay woman to win the annual festival. She was born in Boston but raised in Mayo, and she represented Philadelphia at the event.
Before entering, Maria worked in television production and creative management, doing jobs across Dublin, New York and Philadelphia.
In 2019, she entered the world of politics and became the youngest Irish MEP to be elected.
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