Doireann Garrihy fears ‘judgement from people' ahead of arrival of first child

Sunday World

24-06-2025

"I just feel so lucky having my first baby, to be doing it with my sister, who I live 10 minutes away from, and there's just a lot to look forward to,' Doireann said.
RTÉ 2FM presenter Doireann Garrihy has said she fears she might face judgement from people as a new mum.
The Dancing with the Stars host (33) is expecting her first child with husband Mark Mehigan.
The couple, who tied the knot at the end of last year, announced they are expecting a baby back in April, as the presenter took to Instagram to reveal the happy news.
In the first episode of the third season of her podcast, Doireann and Friends, she was joined by her sister Ailbhe Garrihy, who is also currently pregnant with her third child.
Doireann, who said she is 'feeling great' and has 'lots of energy' during her second trimester, shared with her sister that she fears the judgment on social media which comes with being a mum.
Doireann Garrihy and her fiancé Mark Mehigan. Photo: Instagram
"I just don't know how I'm going to prepare for A, judgment from people, and then B, mum guilt as a result of people being judgy,' she said.
Doireann, who currently hosts 2FM Drive, said she had a 'couple of experiences' of receiving unsolicited advice on her social media and inappropriate in-person comments.
"Someone wrote to me today. I made an iced coffee, and someone replied saying: 'I really hope that's decaf for the baba'.
'Generally, I would ignore, and I just replied and said: 'My doctor told me I can have a coffee a day'.
'When I hadn't announced, I hadn't said it to anyone, there was one person who kept writing to me on Instagram saying: 'I think you have news for your followers. Wink, wink'.
Doireann Garrihy pictured for Sunday Independent Living. Photo: Gerry Mooney
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'So when you get that message, of course, my brain went into overdrive. I was like: 'Okay, I've been seen in the hospital, and I look pregnant. Who have I said it to that maybe has said to someone somewhere?'
'When I did announce, someone was like: 'Yeah, [I] knew you were pregnant during Dancing with the Stars. Do you know why? A lot of your outfits were very leg-focused. I was like: 'I've been getting my legs out as much as possible [my whole life]'.'
Her sister Ailbhe, who is the mother to Séan (4) and Fionn (2), added she thinks pregnancy and parenthood open up 'these flood gates'.
"It's almost like people are like: 'Okay, now we can just say whatever we want,' she said.
The Garrihy sisters also spoke about the joy of being pregnant at the same time, as there are 'six weeks between them'.
"I just feel so lucky having my first baby, to be doing it with my sister, who I live 10 minutes away from, and there's just a lot to look forward to,' Doireann said.
'I feel so unbelievably lucky that it's happening at the same time as you.'
They added that sharing their maternity leave would be the first time they had spent more time together since secondary school.
'I hope it'll just be walks and coffee. I hope we do, and I hope we stick to it,' Ailbhe said.