Love in a Time of Politics: A Memoir of Facing Loss and Finding Hope

(Paperback)

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During Katherine Zappone's second year in ministerial office, her wife Ann Louise Gilligan suffered a major brain haemorrhage that left her blind - a tragedy marking the beginning of a profound transformation in their lives.

Their partnership, defined by a deep love and shared commitment to human rights, guided landmark Irish battles for marriage equality and reform of Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion. But their greatest challenge lay before them.

Love in a Time of Politics describes the cut and thrust of Katherine's life in government, as hospital visits to Ann Louise became a daily reality. It recalls pivotal political moments - such as securing the dignified exhumation of the children's remains at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home - alongside wrenching personal experiences - such as navigating grief following her wife's death in 2017, and the controversies of 2021, following her time in government.

Ultimately, it is a deeply moving story of love and loss, and a testament to how resilience, hope and conviction can light even the darkest paths.

Author Bio

Katherine Zappone is the first open, married lesbian in Irish politics. Appointed to the Seanad in 2011, she went on to win a seat in the Dail in 2016 as an Independent Progressive. She negotiated with Fine Gael to join its government and was subsequently appointed Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Katherine brought her convictions and experience as a human rights advocate and educator to her work as a politician, influencing Fine Gael's social agenda for marriage equality and reproductive justice, and prompting its economic agenda to include combating children's poverty and reducing income inequality. She was the first politician to establish a legal entitlement for parents to receive economic support for childcare. Katherine's life-partnership and eventual marriage to her late spouse Ann Louise Gilligan shaped all of her political work. Theirs was an extraordinary love story. Prior to politics, Katherine and Ann Louise were known for the case they took against the Irish state to have their marriage recognized in Ireland. This legal action kick-started the marriage equality movement, resulting ultimately in a constitutional win in 2015.