Maria Steen’s handbag is once again in the spotlight, months after it went viral during the 2025 presidential race.
Steen launched a conservative campaign for the presidency last year but failed to get on the ballot.
She ran as an Independent candidate, only securing 18 of the required 20 signatures from TDs and Senators before the nominations deadline.
However, her final public appearance during the campaign was overshadowed by a blue Hermès handbag that she was carrying on her arm.
The bag sparked widespread discourse on social media, with its price being estimated anywhere between €10,000 and €40,000.
Last year, Steen told The Irish Times the ‘handbag was deliberate’ and that she wanted to ‘exposé the hypocrisy of the left who don’t love the poor; they just hate the rich’.
On Sunday, the conservative campaigner spoke about the handbag again, doubling down on her ‘deliberate’ remark.
She told RTÉ Radio One’s Brendan O’Connor show: ‘I was asked, “Was it [the handbag] deliberate?”. I said, “Yes”.
‘I thought carefully about what I was going to wear that day. I didn’t know whether I would be going to the Customs House with my nomination paper or whether I would be giving a concession speech.
‘But either way, I thought, “I’m putting myself forward for the highest job in the land. I should make an effort, and I should try to look my best for the sake of the people whom I am asking for their permission to represent them”.
‘And I think it’s a sign of respect to put your best foot forward and that’s what I did.’
Steen explained that the bag was ‘a gift’ from her husband as ‘a sign of affection and appreciation’.
She added that it ‘costs nothing like the figures that were mentioned’.
Steen went on to describe her short-lived presidential campaign as ‘a fascinating adventure’, remarking that she did not regret seeking a spot on the ballot.
She continued: ‘What I couldn’t get over was the breadth of support right across all kinds of communities, all kinds of backgrounds; tradespeople, teachers, stay-at-home mums, consultant doctors, lawyers; you name it.’
Steen left her future in politics up in the air, saying she has not had any formal approaches from any party or movement.
She has been ‘seeing what, if anything, I can contribute in the future’, adding: ‘We’ll see what the future holds.’
