Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-Northwest (elected in 2019) and former Rose of Tralee, recently joined Brendan O’Connor on his podcast to speak openly about her fertility journey and experience with IVF.
At 38 years of age, Maria shared that she felt “the clock was ticking” when it came to starting a family. While motherhood had always been something she hoped for, she acknowledged that embarking on the journey alone was not originally part of her plan. “I always wanted to be a mother… if you asked me in my late twenties or even my late thirties had I planned on doing it on my own, not at all but wanting a family was always part of my bucket list,” she said.
Following a difficult experience with previous fertility clinics, Maria turned to her GP for guidance and support in finding the right care. She was subsequently introduced to Dr Nikhil Purandare and the team at ReproMed’s Galway Clinic.
From her first appointment, Maria described feeling reassured and supported: “They were excited for my journey as much as my immediate family are.” She began her fertility treatment with ReproMed in early 2025, and by February received the news she had been hoping for, a positive pregnancy test.
Reflecting on her experience with the clinic, Maria highlighted the compassion and care she received throughout her treatment. Although she initially kept her journey private, she shared that “Dr. Nick and the team, and even the girls at ReproMed, you never felt on your own when you were in their space.”
Maria is now 16 weeks pregnant, with her baby due in mid-October, and continues her care with ReproMed as her pregnancy progresses. She describes beginning her fertility journey as an emotional experience filled with “waves of emotion, challenges, and then, obviously, now being able to share publicly that I’m 16 weeks pregnant is really exciting.”
At ReproMed, we are honoured to support our patients on their path to parenthood, providing expert care combined with compassion every step of the way.
Listen to the full podcast here: Maria Walsh MEP: “It takes a village – that’s the image I’m leaning on, as a gay, single mum-to-be" - Brendan O'Connor