Varad village rejoices as Leo Varadkar wins Irish PM race

Minutes after Indian-origin Leo Varadkar won the leadership race of his party for Ireland’s premiership, celebrations broke out in Mumbai and his ancestral village of Varad in Sindhudurg district.

Leo (38), is the son of Mumbai-born Ashok Varadkar, a doctor and a Irish mother, Miriam, a nurse. He is a sports enthusiast and loves Konkani cuisine.

The last time Leo came to Mumbai was during the cricket World Cup in 2011. He had accompanied the Irish cricket team. The Varadkar family traces its roots to Varad village in Malvan taluka, located 520 km from Mumbai.

Though Leo has never visited Varad, there is a look of excitement among the residents of the village, who on Saturday, took out a procession with his photograph to celebrate his victory. 

Similarly, in the Borivli suburb of Mumbai, around 60 members of the extended Varadkar family, were glued to the TV following the results. As soon as Leo won the race, celebrations broke out . Leo’s cousin, Shekhar Varadkar, who stays in Borivali said it was a matter of pride for the family. “Leo had starry dreams, he was a voracious reader and continues to do so even now, he was interested in the mysteries of space and astronomy, Shekhar said.