Former jockey Nina Carberry expects to be replaced as a coach on TV show Ireland’s Fittest Family now that she is running in the European elections for Fine Gael.
The former champion jockey was selected as a candidate for the party in the Midlands North-West constituency last month alongside sitting MEP and former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh.
Ms Carberry was a seven-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival and also claimed the Irish Grand National in 2011.
More recently she has been involved in the business side of the sport, buying and selling horses, but had also enjoyed a burgeoning TV career.
Aside from her role as a coach on RTÉ show Ireland’s Fittest Families she won Dancing with the Stars in 2022.
However, speaking of her role on Ireland’s Fittest Family, she said she “probably won’t have time for it” if she is elected and it “might be something that has to go by the wayside unfortunately”.
She said filming on the next series is likely to be happening shortly after June’s election, adding: “I’d imagine they’d be replacing me.”
Speaking at the Fine Gael Ardfheis in Galway, Ms Carberry told The Irish Times she has always had an interest in politics, has always had a vote and “wanted to have a say” when asked why she wants to be a politician.
She added: “I suppose when my two girls came along it was something that I wanted to get more involved in and have an impact on their future, and that’s the main reason.”
Asked what her experience can bring to the European Parliament, Ms Carberry said: “I’ve learned a lot through my riding career. I’ve learned resilience and perseverance from a very young age.
“I think I paved the way for women in racing, the likes of Rachael Blackmore coming through, I felt I helped her to achieve what she’s achieved now and I’m very proud of that.”
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She said when she started out in horse racing “we didn’t have the facilities, like changing rooms in certain courses so that was something I’m very proud of that they’re up to a standard now that is the exact same as men”.
“I’m willing to bring all I’ve learned in that sphere through to politics and I feel that I can really impact and have a loud voice in Europe.”
She said she is not deterred by the often toxic atmosphere around politics and the abuse directed at elected representatives, particularly online, saying: “Being a jockey you get very criticised online as well.
“I’ve kind of tried not to look at that and just think of the positives and that’s the way I’m going to approach politics.
“I realise it’s there but it’s something that I’m not going to get thrown by.”
She declined to identify a main rival in Midlands North-West where Fine Gael currently has two seats – a hotly contested constituency that includes other sitting MEPs, Independent TD Luke “Ming” Flanagan and Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus, as well as Ms Walsh.
Sinn Féin is running Michelle Gildernew, a Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP, and sitting MEP Mr MacManus.
The field also includes three Fianna Fáil candidates, Barry Cowen TD and Senators Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney; Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín; former RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly; and Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly.
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Ms Carberry said: “Every one of them has a chance.
“It’s like a race for me. I’m just going to approach it that way and literally keep my blinkers on and just do my own thing and get out and meet the people.
“I think that’s for me is the most important part and not getting distracted what anyone else is doing.”
The vast constituency includes 15 counties and Ms Carberry said: “Between myself and Maria we’ll cover it very well. She’s obviously placed on the west and I’m on the east. We’re going for every vote and we’re going to try and go and get for the two seats for Fine Gael and have a big voice in Europe.”
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