Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns says she is targeting every constituency in the country to propel her party into power and potentially become the country’s first female taoiseach.

Buoyed by its recent by-election success in Dublin Central, Ms Cairns also told the Irish Mail on Sunday her party plans to capitalise on growing dissatisfaction with the government parties and Sinn Féin by fielding a ‘a new generation’ of candidates in the next general election.

Ms Cairns was speaking as ministers this weekend said they fear a ‘Spring tide’ of support for the Social Democrats could finally break Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s stranglehold on government.

It also comes as a MoS analysis identified 26 constituency battlegrounds where the Social Democrats could make serious gains and deliver 30-plus seats for the party in the 35th Dáil.

This would put Ms Cairns – who this week confirmed she is due to give birth to her second child in October – firmly in the frame for a rotating Taoiseach role in the next coalition.

One senior minister told the MoS: ‘Holly for Taoiseach is the thought that dare not name its name. 

'We all remember the [former Labour leader Eamon] Gilmore for Taoiseach mugs… but there’s no doubt that the Social Democrats are having bad thoughts.’

The Cabinet source said there are concerns voters are increasingly being turned off Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald’s tetchy Dáil exchanges. 

Another Government source noted: ‘People undoubtedly want a different sort of Taoiseach - we have had the same kind of Taoiseach essentially since independence.

‘There is an increase in public discontent over the weekly exchanges between Micheál and Mary Lou; that same ding dong of antagonism. They prefer people to be professional and respectful.’

They added the Social Democrats’ leader, who prefers to prioritise policy over Sinn Féin’s confrontational rhetoric, is emerging as an attractive alternative to increasing numbers of voters.

Speaking to the MoS this week, Ms Cairns coyly insisted it ‘isn’t about positions or titles for me’ when asked if she harboured ambitions about becoming the first female leader of the country.

But in the wake of new TD Darren Ennis increasing her party’s Dáil representation to 12, she said it is ‘clear people who want to see an alternative to this Government are increasingly looking to the Social Democrats to provide that alternative'. 

Ms Cairns continued: 'I believe that is because the Social Democrats are straight-talking, solutions-focused and have a positive vision for this country.’

While her strategists will be targeting constituencies where the Social Democrats could make gains at the expense of rivals across the political spectrum, Ms Cairns insisted she is ‘not ruling any area out'.

'In the next election, I want voters in every constituency to be able to vote for a Social Democrats candidate,’ she said. 

The Cork North-West TD pointed to her own experience, when she was ‘written off at the start’ because ‘people thought a rural constituency would never vote for a Social Democrats candidate’.

But she added: ‘We proved them wrong.’

In her usual understated style, Ms Cairns downplayed her own political ambitions, insisting her focus is on ‘having the strongest possible mandate to wield the largest possible influence on any future government and ensure the crises we face – in everything from housing and healthcare to the cost-of-living and disability services – are finally addressed’.

A key challenge for the Social Democrats will be to secure key candidates in the electoral battlegrounds that would enable it to overtake opposition rival Sinn Féin.

The Social Democrats currently have 32 councillors in local authorities across the country, but a party source noted: ‘We are looking for new faces, people who have thought politics is not for them. 

'We are seeking a new generation, especially in rural Ireland.’

In an indication of the scale of the opposition party’s ambition, the Social Democrats are examining the possibility of running two candidates in certain constituencies.

Currently the party only have two TDs in one constituency (Dublin Central) but if support levels continue to grow, the party is considering running multiple candidates in five seat constituencies.

The party is also moving to distance itself from Sinn Féin, with whom they allied for Catherine Connolly’s successful presidential campaign. 

One source noted: ‘We have always been very wary about the Sinn Féin connection. When you look at campaign photographs, [Labour leader] Ivana [Bacik] is wrapped around Mary Lou. 

'[Social Democrats deputy leader] Cian O’Callaghan is far away at the edge. Holly too. They know Sinn Féin are to be handled with caution.’

Asked about the party’s candidate strategy, Ms Cairns said this week: ‘We are committed to ensuring there is increased diversity in council chambers, in the Dáil and in the Seanad – whether that is more women, more people from minority backgrounds or more people from working class areas.

‘My experience, when it comes to asking women to stand for election, is that oftentimes you must ask more than once. 

'Because, even if a woman would make a fantastic candidate and is already doing great work in her community, they sometimes can’t envision themselves as an elected representative.

‘It is our job, as a party, to find people like this, who can make a great contribution to Irish public life, and do everything we can to support them to stand for election.’

The 36-year-old – the youngest party leader in Dáil Éireann – was speaking as she confirmed this week that she is pregnant with her second child.

In a statement, she said having a family should not be disqualifying for a political party leader.

‘I am so happy to announce that we are expecting our second child. 

'Barry [Looney] and I are so excited and feel extremely lucky to be able to raise our family in West Cork.’

Ms Cairns has one daughter, who was born on the day voters went to the polls in the November 2024 General Election, meaning she was unable to cast her own vote.