{"id":442800,"date":"2026-05-11T06:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T06:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/442800\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T06:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T06:40:10","slug":"who-is-the-richest-person-in-the-seanad-the-smart-money-is-on-this-man-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/442800\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is the richest person in the Seanad? The smart money is on this man \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy<\/a> has, in recent weeks, featured in social media posts next to his furniture store and cafe, The Elms Home & Living outside Naas in Co Kildare<\/a>, promoting an \u201cabsolute clearance sale\u201d. <\/p>\n

The furniture side of the business is winding down and the shop\u2019s Instagram videos include McCarthy highlighting how the store has \u201cknocked \u20ac1,000 off\u201d a cabinet and sofas.<\/p>\n

The food offering \u2013 billed on The Elms\u2019 website as \u201cthe best gourmet cafe in Kildare\u201d \u2013 is to remain in operation.<\/p>\n

The Elms Home & Living is on farmland owned by the businessman and philanthropist. <\/p>\n

The assets are declared in McCarthy\u2019s first return to the Seanad<\/a> register of interests since winning a seat<\/a> in the upper House of the Oireachtas in last year\u2019s election. <\/p>\n

It is the most extensive declaration made by any Senator for 2025, according to the register, published in March. <\/p>\n

The record reveals, over three pages, an extensive list of business, property and other interests that show McCarthy to be one of the wealthiest politicians in the Oireachtas and perhaps the wealthiest in the Seanad.<\/p>\n

Definitive estimations of wealth are difficult to make as the rules governing declarations to the register of interests do not require politicians to include the monetary value of shareholdings or land and property, nor the level of earnings from other occupations or income streams.<\/p>\n

\"AubreyAubrey McCarthy: The record reveals an extensive list of business, property and other interests that show him to be one of the wealthiest politicians in the Oireachtas and perhaps the wealthiest in the Seanad. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n

However, it is clear from the register that, alongside his involvement in several charitable and community organisations, McCarthy also has considerable business interests.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u2018I believe in the power of compassion\u2019: Senator forgives man jailed for threatening to kill himOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

McCarthy (54) was elected to the Seanad last year, winning a seat on the University of Dublin panel, the electorate of which comprises graduates from Trinity College Dublin. <\/p>\n

McCarthy\u2019s ongoing involvement with Tiglin \u2013 where he remains a board member \u2013 is included in his register-of-interests return, along with seven other roles described as voluntary and unpaid<\/p>\n

A graduate of the university, McCarthy ran unsuccessfully for the Seanad in a 2022 byelection to fill a seat left vacant when Labour\u2019s Ivana Bacik was elected to the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n

He decided to run then \u201cbecause the lessons I have learned through my work need a strong voice in the Oireachtas\u201d and \u201cwe need to focus on inequality but also on solutions that make sense and get results\u201d. <\/p>\n

Running again last year, he won the final seat on the panel. <\/p>\n

Later in 2025 he expressed an interest in running for the presidency<\/a>, but ultimately did not enter the race. <\/p>\n

\"AubreyAubrey McCarthy being elected to the Seanad. Photograph: Paul Sharp <\/p>\n

In his Seanad declaration, he lists his occupations as \u201cpublic representative\u201d \u2013 a nod to his role as Senator; \u201ccompany director\u201d covering commercial and charitable organisations; and \u201clessor\u201d, another word for landlord. <\/p>\n

On his website, McCarthy describes himself as a businessman and social entrepreneur and tells of how he was \u201cborn into a family that faced the challenges of addiction and deprivation\u201d.<\/p>\n

It says he \u201cunderstands the transformative power of opportunity\u201d and that \u201cthrough determination and education, he not only overcame adversity but also dedicated himself to helping others do the same\u201d.<\/p>\n

The website says he worked in London at the age of 16, saved money, and later returned home to found AMC Removals, \u201can award-winning removals and storage company now employing over 40 people\u201d. <\/p>\n

In his return to the register, he declares ownership of shares and a directorship in this business.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis difficult upbringing inspired a passion to advocate for those affected by poverty, marginalisation and addiction,\u201d his website states.<\/p>\n

In 2008, McCarthy founded Tiglin, a charity dedicated to helping people struggling with addiction and homelessness.<\/p>\n

McCarthy\u2019s ongoing involvement with Tiglin \u2013 where he remains a board member \u2013 is included in his register-of-interests return, along with seven other roles described as voluntary and unpaid.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0How Senator Aubrey McCarthy befriended notorious murderer the Black WidowOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

These include chairman roles with the South Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force; the Tivoli Training Centre for marginalised people in D\u00fan Laoghaire; Dublin Christian Mission Outreach, the organisation behind the Light House, a cafe and service for homeless people in Dublin city centre; and Bluebell Community Council in Dublin, among others.<\/p>\n

His return also lists several shareholdings and directorships in relation to commercial organisations. <\/p>\n

Senators are only required to declare shareholdings with an aggregate market value in excess of \u20ac13,000. McCarthy did not answer a query on whether all of his shareholdings are worth more than this sum. <\/p>\n

In his declaration he listed shares with Allied Irish Banks plc; Bank of Ireland Group plc; and California-based Alphabet Inc, the tech giant parent company of internet search engine Google. <\/p>\n

In one of the Instagram videos posted by The Elms in recent weeks, McCarthy gives a brief history of the family business, saying his father and grandfather bought the farmland in 1967 and later pivoted to opening an antique shop<\/p>\n

McCarthy also listed shares and directorships in his own companies AMC Capital Fund Investment Holdings Ltd, The Elms Home & Living Ltd, and The Elms Furniture Ltd.<\/p>\n

In one of the Instagram videos posted by The Elms in recent weeks, McCarthy gives a brief history of the family business, saying his father and grandfather bought the farmland in 1967 and later opened an antique shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen in 2008 we changed it because antiques were going out of fashion,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs times change, The Elms has always changed\u201d and \u201cwe\u2019re changing again\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n

The Kildare Now website last month reported on the winding down of the furniture side of The Elms Home & Living, and that McCarthy suggested a new business will evolve that could include a wellness centre. <\/p>\n

In response to queries from The Irish Times, McCarthy said \u201cthe business was losing money\u201d and the \u201ctough decision\u201d was made to reduce the furniture business.<\/p>\n

\"Then-presidentThen-president Michael D Higgins, and his wife Sabina, officially open Jigginstown Manor, a Tiglin facility for vulnerable young adults in Naas, Co Kildare, with Aubrey McCarthy (right), chair of Tiglin, and John Craddock, chair Homeless Care (left), in June 2022. Photograph: Colin Keegan\/Collins Dublin <\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, times are changing,\u201d he said, and \u201cthe reality is the people are buying online\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Senator has three entries in the land and property category of his declaration, including ownership of the farmland at Punchestown outside Naas where The Elms Home & Living is located.<\/p>\n

Land Registry papers show that the land comprises just over 16 hectares, or 40 acres.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather and father were farmers and it is still used as farmland today,\u201d he said of the land.<\/p>\n

He did not respond to questions on whether he farmed the land himself or whether he was leasing it out. <\/p>\n

In his register-of-interests return, McCarthy also lists a \u201cletting\u201d property in Monkstown, south Dublin, that he co-owns with a business partner. He confirmed it is still being rented out. <\/p>\n

The final entry in the property category of the declaration of interests is a building he co-owned with his brother Fergal at Long\u2019s Place in Dublin city which is also listed as \u201cletting\u201d.<\/p>\n

The building includes eight residential units. They were sold for almost \u20ac2.5 million in April 2025, according to a report in the Business Post. <\/p>\n

In response to queries on the property, McCarthy said it was sold \u201cwith all tenants in situ\u201d. <\/p>\n

He said the property was rented to Dublin City Council in about 2016, and when this arrangement ended, he said, \u201cI approached other approved housing bodies to see if they would take it on but they refused.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said it was subsequently rented to workers during the week and was used for Airbnb short-term letting at the weekends. The property has not been used for short-term letting since 2018, he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI also gave free use of two units to homeless individuals during that time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough various charities, I have worked to provide housing and support for up to 200 people, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCarthy lists \u201caccommodation recognition payment for hosting refugees from Ukraine\u201d under the \u201ccontracts\u201d heading in his return.<\/p>\n

The accommodation recognition payment \u2013 introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 \u2013 is a tax-free payment of \u20ac600 a month for each property used to provide accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.<\/p>\n

McCarthy did not respond to a question on where he had been accommodating Ukrainian refugees, nor offered an estimate of the total sum he has been paid under the scheme. <\/p>\n

In the gifts category of his register declaration, McCarthy declared \u201chonorary life membership\u201d of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.<\/p>\n

The declaration says this was \u201cawarded in 2024 for relentless efforts to enhance the lives of society\u2019s most marginalised individuals\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy has, in recent weeks, featured in social media posts next to his furniture store…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":442801,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[74909,61,60,3770,30110,43,15050],"class_list":["post-442800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-aubrey-mccarthy","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-kildare","tag-naas","tag-news","tag-seanad-eireann"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/442801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}