Love in a Time of Politics

‘Wise, moving, deeply honest.’ MARY McALEESE

‘Tender, funny, humane – a memoir of the courage it takes to lead change.’ EMILIE PINE

‘This is a love story that changed our country forever.’ ALI HEWSON

During her second year as an Irish government minister, Katherine Zappone’s world was upended when her beloved wife, Ann Louise Gilligan, suffered a catastrophic brain haemorrhage. Their partnership had guided landmark Irish battles for marriage equality and reform of Ireland’s constitutional ban on abortion. But their greatest challenge now lay before them.

As Ann Louise fought for survival, Katherine was embroiled in the cut and thrust of modern Irish politics – including seeking justice for the forgotten children of Tuam, putting her at the heart of Ireland’s reckoning with its past. All the while, she faced the quiet devastation of impending loss and, later, the grief that followed. Then, in 2021, came political controversy that would shake her to the core.

Love in a Time of Politics is a story of enduring love between two trailblazing women, as well as a rare insider’s account of political life in Ireland during a time of seismic social change. With honesty, warmth and wisdom, it reveals how compassion can shape policy, and how conviction can sustain even the most broken heart.