**Catherine Connolly Wins Irish Presidency in Landslide Victory**
Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, 68, secured a commanding 63% of the vote in Saturday’s presidential election, comfortably defeating her center-right rival, former Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys.
The victory follows concerted support from Ireland’s left-leaning opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, who united behind Connolly’s candidacy. She is widely expected to be a vocal president unafraid to challenge the country’s center-right government.
### The Role of the Irish President
While the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial and does not involve executive powers such as law-making, the president represents Ireland on the international stage and often serves as a unifying voice on major national issues.
Connolly will succeed Michael D. Higgins, a popular and outspoken president known for his commentary on issues like the war in Gaza and NATO spending.
### Connolly’s Vision as President
On election night, Connolly vowed to be “an inclusive president” who champions diversity and acts as “a voice for peace.” Her platform emphasizes social equality, inclusivity, and defending Ireland’s cherished tradition of military neutrality.
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### From Independent Lawmaker to President
Catherine Connolly has been serving as an independent lawmaker for Galway West since 2016, winning three consecutive terms in Parliament. In 2020, she became the first woman to hold the position of deputy speaker in the lower house of Parliament.
A mother of two sons, Connolly grew up in social housing in a suburb of Galway as one of 14 children. After losing her mother at age nine, she was raised by her father, who worked at a local shipyard. During her student years, she volunteered with a Catholic organization that helped older people and took on various community roles.
Connolly holds degrees in clinical psychology and law, and worked as a lawyer before entering politics.
Her political career began in 1999 when she was elected as a Labour Party member of Galway City Council. Connolly was elected mayor of Galway in 2004 but left the Labour Party in 2007 to continue her career as an independent.
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### Outspoken Views on Israel, the EU, and Military Neutrality
Connolly has been vocal in her criticism of Israel’s actions in the ongoing war in Gaza. In September, she attracted controversy for describing Hamas as “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.” Prime Minister Micheál Martin publicly criticized her for appearing hesitant to condemn the militant group’s deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Though Connolly later said she “utterly condemned” Hamas’ actions, she also criticized Israel for what she characterized as a genocide in Gaza.
On European affairs, Connolly has repeatedly criticized the European Union’s growing “militarization” in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She has drawn comparisons to Nazi-era armament buildup in the 1930s and questioned the expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe.
Her remarks, including criticism of the U.S. and U.K., have drawn concern from some who worry about alienating Ireland’s traditional allies.
Connolly insists on defending Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality. During her campaign, she advocated for a referendum on a government proposal to remove the “triple lock” — the legal safeguards governing the deployment of Irish soldiers on international missions.
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### Connecting with Voters
Connolly’s outspoken style and commitment to social equality and inclusivity have resonated particularly with younger voters.
In televised presidential debates, she emphasized respecting the constitutional limits of the presidency but also pledged to speak out “when it’s necessary.”
In her victory speech at Dublin Castle, Connolly said:
> “Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and new people who have come to our country.”
Her election marks a new chapter for Ireland, with many eagerly watching how she will shape the nation’s future as its next president.
https://fortune.com/2025/10/27/who-is-catherine-connolly-ireland-president-landslide-election/
