Aubrey McCarthy

Aubrey McCarthy is an independent member of Seanad Éireann who has represented Dublin University since 2025.

McCarthy is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science degree and a master's degree. He was also educated at Dublin City University and the University of Wales. In 2008 he founded Tiglin, a charity that provides housing, rehabilitation and education and employment access for homeless people and those affected by addiction. He is also chair of the Bluebell Community Council, Tivoli Training Centre and the Dublin Christian Mission Outreach.

He was awarded the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2024 and the Trinity Alumni Award in 2023. He has spoken at many public forums including the Fianna Fail Ardfheis, Aontú Ardfheis, as well as the Citizens Assembly, about his work on homelessness and the services offered by Tiglin. In 2024 he received personal threats over the work his charity was doing to help asylum seekers without accommodation.

He contested the 2022 Seanad by-election caused by the election of Labour's Ivana Bacik to Dáil Éireann, finishing in sixth place overall. At the 2025 Seanad election, he was elected for Dublin University, narrowly beating Green Party candidate Hazel Chu for the final seat after a recount. His election was welcomed by the Iona Institute, a right-wing, socially conservative Catholic lobby group, who described him as a "strong pro-life voice" who had opposed the repeal of the 8th Amendment. It was later reported that McCarthy had called on the assistance of the Pro Life Campaign during the election and that campaign manager, Eilis Mulroy had organised lists of pro-life voters on the Seanad electoral roll and actively sought votes on his behalf.

During the 2025 presidential election campaign, McCarthy was one of 18 Oireachtas members who had agreed to nominate Iona Institute member and conservative campaigner, Maria Steen as a candidate; however she did not make the ballot as she required 20 nominations.