It's been a little over a year since Leo Varadkar stepped down as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, leaving politics behind in favour of new pursuits.
Varadkar has used that time to take up several roles both here in Ireland and abroad, including an unlikely team-up with Cork singer Lyra on RTÉ's Uncharted with Ray Goggins. The pair made a surprisingly good team as they travelled with the former special forces operator to the wild, untamed mountains of Drakensberg in South Africa.
This year also marks a major milestone for his partner, Matthew, with the couple celebrating their tenth anniversary in 2025. So, from the ins and outs of their relationship to Leo's new career path in the USA, here's what the former Taoiseach has been up to.
New career
Earlier this year, Leo announced that he would be the spring 2025 Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Centre for Public Leadership.
Over the next few months, Leo will give guest lectures, provide student mentorship, and participate in discussions focused on public leadership, healthcare policy, and international diplomacy.
He recently shared snaps of his time in Boston, Massachusetts, including pictures of his new office, a CrossFit gym he’s training at and a map of the Harvard Kennedy School.
Speaking after the announcement of his new position, Leo said: “I am truly honoured to accept the position of Hauser Leader at the Kennedy School, and I am looking forward to spending time at Harvard this spring.
“It's going to be a great opportunity for me to learn as well as to mentor the next generation of public leaders.”
It’s not his only position in America, with Leo also confirming that he is an advisor for US-based PR company, Penta. Penta is an international public relations firm that has offices in Dublin and across Europe, North America and Asia. Some of their clients are Microsoft, Google, JP Morgan, Open AI, Johnson & Johnson and Bank of America.
The Dubliner was appointed to their advisory board and will bring his “wealth of global leadership experience to the firm” according to the company.
“As Taoiseach across two terms... Mr Varadkar spearheaded major policy reforms and crisis management that have shaped Ireland’s strong global standing,” Penta told The Irish Times.
“His expertise in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, economic development, and progressive social change will be invaluable as Penta continues its rapid expansion in 2025 and beyond.”
TV career
While people are used to seeing Leo on their TVs during his time as a politician, he recently tried his hand at something new.
He was announced as one of the first participants in RTE’s new show Uncharted with Ray Goggins, where he teamed up with singer Lyra to explore the mountains of Drakensberg, South Africa.
Along with former special forces soldier Ray, the pair slept in caves, scaled gigantic peaks and climbed to the top of one of the tallest waterfalls on the planet, Tugela Falls. They also completed the vertical climb of the Drakensberg Escarpment.
Relationship
Leo is still going strong with his partner, Matthew Barrett. The couple first got together in 2015 and will mark 10 years together this year.
They have been enjoying their time together in America lately, with the former politician sharing a snap of them at the Kennedy Library in May, where they celebrated former Vice President of the U.S. Mike Pence's receiving the Courage Award.
Leo opened up about the future of his relationship with Matt, sharing that they don’t have any plans to get married soon.
“He is definitely my partner for life, or at least I hope he is,” he told the Left On Read podcast last year.
“We have talked about marriage but [have] no immediate plans to do so and no particular reason to do so.
“I don't think kids are in our future, to be honest. Not that I have anything against them. It's just nice to give them back.”
