From Stigma to the Seanad: Lynn Ruane on Fighting Class Shame, Raising Her Voice and Tearing Down the Barriers They Built
In this powerful and personal episode, we sit down with Lynn Ruane - activist, author of People Like Me, independent senator, and proud Tallaght woman. Lynn opens up about her journey from becoming a mam at just 15 to walking the halls of Trinity College and eventually entering the Seanad, all while staying true to her roots.This conversation dives deep into working-class identity, the stigma of poverty, what it's like dealing with Gardaí as a young person from Tallaght, and how community can be both a safety net and a springboard. We explore the raw truths behind motherhood, breaking cycles, and fighting for change, not from the top down, but shoulder to shoulder with those most affected.Lynn’s story, as told in her award-winning memoir People Like Me, is one of grit, love, and defiance. If you’ve ever felt left behind, unheard, or underestimated, this one's for you.4 Reasons You Should Listen:You’ll hear the truth about class in Ireland - no filters, no fancy language, just the raw reality.Lynn doesn’t just speak for herself - she speaks for every working-class person told to stay small.It’s not your typical political chat - it’s personal, emotional, and deeply grounded in lived experience.You’ll walk away inspired, especially if you’ve ever felt underestimated, overlooked or unheard.Key Takeaways:Working-class pride is political: Lynn shares why her background isn't something to overcome - it’s the reason she fights.Motherhood can be revolutionary: Becoming a mam young gave Lynn both struggle and strength.Ireland’s systems weren’t built for people like us – but they can be changed from the inside out.Real representation matters: When people like Lynn step into power, the conversation shifts.🎧 Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome & why Lynn’s story matters00:46 The power of memoir & being truly seen03:12 Growing up in Tallaght - the real story12:31 Class, shame, and pride18:49 Interactions with Gardaí as a young working-class woman26:26 Young motherhood and rewriting the narrative31:19 Breaking political glass ceilings34:26 Privilege, power, and why community still matters36:46 Finding her voice at Trinity38:20 Running for the Seanad and why46:06 Moving into media, staying real01:00:28 Parenting as a political act01:04:57 Final reflections: why we keep goingConnect With UsBig news, if you didn’t already know - we’re now on TikTok! You can find us over at @wasyourmaontelly where we’re sharing behind-the-scenes moments, extra bits from the episodes, and maybe a few laughs too. We’d genuinely love to hear from you, what you loved, what made you think, what you’d skip, and what topics or guests you’d love us to explore next. All thoughts welcome, sound out and go raibh maith agat.If this episode struck a chord, scroll back through the feed, we’ve had some incredible guests and powerful conversations on topics that matter.This episode was proudly produced by The 32 Agency. You can follow them on Instagram at @the32agency for more updates, insights, and brilliant behind-the-scenes magic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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