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Winning the Rose of Tralee in 2014 not only made Maria Walsh a household name; it also paved the way for a career in politics, which saw her elected as an MEP for the Midlands north-west in 2019.
Now living on the family beef and sheep farm in Shrule, Co Mayo, she tells Maria Moynihan about the challenges of remote working, the people who have inspired her and what she’s most looking forward to after lockdown.
Since moving back home to the family farm in Shrule during lockdown… I have really worked hard to get a structure around my work days to allow myself the time to stop working at weekends. It was difficult to find the balance in the first months of my role as an MEP. I have been in Shrule, with my parents since mid-March, a good time for a farmer’s daughter as we started lambing. It helps immensely as I am currently working on my Green Cert, so I’m building some great hands-on experience.
Working remotely as an MEP right now involves… regular meetings with colleagues in the European Parliament through teleconferencing. The European Parliament’s plenary sessions now take place remotely, with virtual voting. We’re the first parliament in the world to put this system in place and it allows us to continue to represent our citizens on key issues, especially ones that are affecting them during the crisis. My team and I have put structure into our remote working days: daily conference calls, regular one-on-one catch-ups, strategy brain storms. Our focus is on how best to support the Midlands North-West in the aftermath of COVID-19.
To switch off in the evenings, I… am learning to take my brain “offline”. For someone like me who is used to running around, constantly thinking about how to engage, how to work, how to develop my skills as a politician, it’s been difficult at times. Putting structure into my daily routine – alarms to remind me to “stop using your phone”, no phone when I first wake up, yoga classes and walks to the farmyard, have helped me.
Growing up, I wanted to… enlist as an emergency paramedic in the US army, believe it or not!
My first job was… working as a waitress in Lisdonagh House at age 12. I grew up in a house of self-employed, gritty people, so getting out into the working world was exciting for me.
Winning the Rose of Tralee was a turning point because… it allowed me not only to travel the world and experience various cultures from India and South Africa to Belarus, but it also encouraged me to find my podium. I learned to use my voice as an Irish woman, as someone who is passionate about human rights, and who has a grá for the history of who we are as a nation.
In 2018, I became a trooper in the Reserve Defence Forces because… I held a passion to be a member of the Defence Forces for years. I admire the force’s ethos, values and leadership skills, and the development opportunities they present. When I graduated as a 2 Star Trooper in 2018, I fulfilled the goal I always wanted to achieve. While my journey was short compared to the years of service other men and women have given, I am honoured to say I was a member of the RDF.
The moment I realised that I wanted to be involved in politics was… I have been working on community projects for years, particularly with young people, and my year as the Rose of Tralee amplified my passion for supporting communities even more. I believe the various projects I was involved with were an apprenticeship for my political career. I attended a Women for Election event in June 2018 and asked myself: why not me? Why not now? I decided then and there.
Working at EU level, I believe the biggest challenge facing Irish agriculture is… the EU demand for beef is weak relative to supply, which puts downward pressure on prices for all EU farmers. The trade deal with South America, Mercosur, will only have a further marginal effect on the EU price. The bigger threat will come from the long-term policy of reducing the protection in the EU for agricultural products. This has already happened for milk and it could eventually happen for beef. We also need to support our active farmers better, not just financially support farm enterprises through the Common Agricultural Policy, but also through green incentives, mental health outreach, and upskilling in technology.
But the biggest opportunity is… our farming communities are passionate stakeholders of our land. There is a tremendous opportunity to draw in active farmers to develop their farm enterprises. Teagasc and agriculture programmes are educating us on what farmers can further develop, from tillage, to social farming, to pedigree stock, to farm to fork. We need to find a balance between east and west farming styles, large versus small, and be fair in delivering programmes that better every farmer, and not just a small portion. The appetite is there to develop the sector. We just need to ensure every stakeholder is around the table to protect the future.
The person who has inspired me most in politics is… I am fortunate to have a number of inspirational influencers. My cousin Jimmy, who passed away 10 years ago, was hugely influential on my interest in US politics. We both followed US politics and engrossed ourselves in Obama’s campaigns. My parents are a strong influence for their involvement in community politics and of course, being a Mayo woman, having Mary Robinson as our first female president, planted a seed of humanitarian activism when I moved to Shrule at the age of seven.
Being a pioneer is an important part of my life because… it is the one constant in my life. It forced me, in some ways, to grow up quickly as pressures from other young people and society were heavy, but I was confident in my decision to abstain from alcohol. It definitely has served as a guidance to me as I celebrate 20 years of being a pioneer this summer.
The book I return to is… my cousin introduced me to "Chicken Soup for the Soul" many years ago and I keep it at my bedside. A guiding principle in how to listen, support and understand people from all walks of life.
My personal anthem is…The Green and Red of Mayo is always a song running through my head.
The best advice I ever got was… be yourself, stand tall and paddle your own canoe.
What I am most looking forward to after lockdown… attending a Mayo senior football game would be on the top of the list.
If the GAA summer season had not been postponed, would Mayo have won the All-Ireland? Absolutely!
The five things you will always find in my handbag are… my phone, a notebook, my European Parliament badge, Charlotte Tilbury blusher and, of course, my passport.
The app I use most is… Instagram, for work and inspiration. There is beautiful content and grassroot stories out there, but it also can be difficult to navigate around fake news.
Most people don’t know this, but… I played the button accordion way back when, but my passion for sports took over.
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