Maura Derrane has 'zero intentions' of pursuing politics but backs Grainne Seoige's bid for election

The RTE Today Show presenter has said 'absolutely not' to going into politics but she is supportive of Grainne Seoige's bid for election after being selected as a Fianna Fáil candidate

Maura Derrane has ruled out a career in politics as she has "zero intention" to follow in fellow broadcaster Grainne Seoige's footsteps.

Grainne is hoping to make it into the Dail in the next election after being selected as a candidate for Fianna Fail.

Maura has backed Grainne but says it's not something she would be interested in herself.

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“No, absolutely not. I’ve seen it from the other side, so no thanks," said the presenter, who is married to former Fine Gael TD John Deasy. "But fair play to Gráinne. It’s a big move. It’s a new challenge, a huge challenge, but Gráinne would be well able for it."

Speaking to the Irish Independent, she continued: “She’s very used to the camera, she’s very used to public speaking and she’s a real Galway girl. I think she’s in a very good area because she speaks Irish, she’s got that Connemara base, she lives in Galway city – so who knows? She could be in the Dáil very soon.”

The Today Show presenter also opened up on a very difficult year for her and her family, after her sister Rita sadly passed away last November.

“She was sick for a long time, so we knew it was coming, of course. But I think it’s even more difficult now, further along, because the realisation of someone being gone is hitting us all now,” Maura said.

“Time is a healer when somebody passes but the shock of somebody being gone kind of hits you at a later stage. It’s unimaginable when it happens.

“We knew this day was coming but it doesn’t make it any easier when it does come. The loss of someone young is so hard too.

“She went through a lot and it’s such a terrible illness, such a horrible thing for someone to go through, for the person and the family.”

Maura took some time off before Rita's passing and is thankful she got to spend that time with her.

“I am very lucky that we had that summer before and I didn’t take any work on. So I was off as I wanted to be with her while she was still here and I did have that time with her,” she said.

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