ALWAGHT- At Dublin Castle on Saturday evening, Catherine Connolly, visibly elated, greeted supporters just hours after the Irish presidential election results were announced.
Catherine Connolly, Ireland’s newly elected president, vowed to be a reflective and principled leader, promising to listen and speak when necessary to shape a republic that values everyone. The 68-year-old left-wing independent won 63% of the vote, defeating centre-right rival Heather Humphreys. Her victory signals a shift toward a presidency that challenges traditional foreign policy, military alliances, and prioritizes social justice in national discourse.
Connolly’s rise from a working-class background in Galway to the presidency is marked by decades of public service. She began in local politics as a Labour Party councillor, became mayor of Galway, and later served nine years in parliament as an independent socialist, focusing on inequality and foreign policy. Her campaign drew support from left-leaning parties and younger voters, particularly for her pro-Palestine and human-rights positions.
On foreign policy, Connolly has been outspoken on Gaza, condemning Israel as a “terrorist state” and calling its attacks genocide. She linked Ireland’s history of colonization to her caution against foreign interference in sovereign nations, emphasizing Palestinian self-determination. She has also criticized US military interventions, NATO expansion, and the Western military-industrial complex, highlighting the human cost of wars supported by American and European powers.
Domestically and internationally, Connolly’s election has been widely welcomed. Supporters praise her opposition to Western militarism, EU militarization, and corporate influence, while analysts see her presidency as reinforcing Ireland’s tradition of neutrality. Her focus on social justice, equality, and human rights suggests a more assertive Irish stance on humanitarian issues, reflecting the growing influence of progressive and youth-driven political movements.
