DUBLIN (Realist English). Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent lawmaker known for her outspoken views on Palestine and European Union policy, has been elected President of Ireland in a decisive victory that will shape the country’s tone on global issues for the next seven years.
Connolly, 68, won 63% of the vote on Saturday, comfortably defeating Heather Humphreys, a former Cabinet minister from the ruling center-right coalition. Backed by opposition parties including Sinn Féin, she is expected to use her largely ceremonial post to advocate for social inclusion, peace, and Irish neutrality in foreign policy.
“I will be an inclusive president — a voice for peace and diversity,” Connolly said during her victory speech at Dublin Castle, pledging to “champion equality and the values that unite our republic.”
From Galway lawmaker to head of state
A mother of two, Connolly has served three terms in Parliament representing Galway West since 2016 and became Ireland’s first female deputy speaker in 2020. Raised in social housing as one of 14 children, she worked as a lawyer and clinical psychologist before entering politics. She began her career with the Labour Party on Galway City Council in 1999, later serving as mayor of Galway, before leaving Labour in 2007 to run as an independent.
Criticism of Israel and the EU
Connolly has frequently condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them “genocidal,” while also drawing criticism for remarks in 2023 describing Hamas as part of the fabric of the Palestinian people. She later clarified that she “utterly condemned” the militant group’s October 7 attacks but insisted on highlighting what she called the “collective punishment” of Palestinians.
On European affairs, Connolly has been a sharp critic of the EU’s growing militarization since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, comparing it to the rearmament of Europe in the 1930s. She has voiced opposition to NATO expansion and defended Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality, arguing for a referendum before any change to the “triple lock” system governing overseas troop deployments.
A president willing to speak out
Though the Irish presidency is largely symbolic, Connolly succeeds Michael D. Higgins, another left-leaning president known for his outspoken stances on Gaza and NATO spending. In her campaign, she said she would respect the constitutional limits of the office but would also “speak when it’s necessary.”
“Together, we can shape a new republic that values and champions diversity,” she told supporters. “One that takes pride in our Irish and English languages — and in all the new voices that now call Ireland home.”
