Nicole Ryan

Ryan was born in Kyiv, Ukraine to a Portuguese father and a Ukrainian mother^[4] and grew up in Millstreet, County Cork.^[5] Her grandfather, Viktor Kalinichko, was a lieutenant-colonel in the KGB.^[6] Ryan lost her brother Alex Ryan to a party drug in 2016. She subsequently returned to education at University College Cork to study addiction.^[7] Ryan lives in the Gaeltacht village of Ballyvourney in County Cork.

Ryan has spent many years as an anti-drug campaigner, visiting schools all over Ireland and speaking to over 13,000 post-primary students about the dangers of drugs.^[8] She received a "Pride of Cork" award for her efforts in 2021.^[9]

Ryan was elected to Seanad Éireann at the 2025 Seanad election for the Administrative Panel. She was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2024 general election for the Cork North-West constituency.^[1]