“s deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said:”
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Catherine Connolly
Catherine Martina Ann Connolly is an Irish politician serving as the president of Ireland since 11 November 2025. She had been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency from 2016 until her election as president in 2025.
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politics · President of Ireland since 2025 · politician · clinical psychologist · barrister · also Catherine Connolly, Catherine Martina Ann Connolly, Caitríona Ní Chonghaile, Caitríona Máirtíona Áine Ní Chonghaile, Connolly
Born 5 November 1955 · Q5052598
56 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 25 entries
“I will be an inclusive president for all”
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“love to see a united Ireland”
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“not afraid to stand against the consensus”
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“As a woman and as a mother, I”
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“has always been a concern for me and it remains a concern for me”
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“Her principled support for Irish neutrality, outspoken advocacy for the rights of women and migrants, deep respect for the Irish language and passion for economic justice make her the only viable presidential candidate for the left.”
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“The EU has become increasingly militarised under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen and the European People”
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“democratic deficit that is an integral part of the EU”
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“took an active part in the project of fear that sought to scare the British electorate into remaining”
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“s suitability through recommendations from prison visiting committees and politicians familiar with her background, and that she understood Ní Shionnain had rehabilitated herself and was no longer active in Éirígí. Ní Shionnain”
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“On no occasion had I anything to do with the government, nor did I ever utter one word of support for Assad”
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“s six-month tenure, which ended when she left of her own accord. The hiring drew criticism from senior political figures, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Fine Gael”
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Ireland's Classic Hits Radio: President Connolly Offers To Meet IRA Murder Victim's Sister Following Controversial Photograph
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Irish Examiner: President Connolly offers to meet Ann Travers, sister of IRA murder victim
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The Journal: Ann Travers ‘hopes’ President Connolly can broker meeting with woman convicted of sister’s killing
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Business Post: John Deasy: Donald Trump crossing the road to the Áras could put Catherine Connolly on the spot
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The Journal: President Connolly to meet sister of Troubles victim who criticised photo with IRA gang member
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The Irish Times: Catherine Connolly to meet Ann Travers after encounter with her sister’s IRA murderer
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The Irish News: Máiría Cahill: Will President Connolly do the decent thing and contact Ann Travers?
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Irish Independent: President Connolly has yet to decide on salary donation, 10 months after campaign pledge
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Connacht Tribune: Catherine Connolly's husband makes unexpected visit showing true side to him
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Roscommon People: President Catherine Connolly visits RSG
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Irish Mirror: The photo from Belfast that has triggered fierce backlash against Irish President Catherine Connolly
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Public attention spiked: 2,659 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 856, with 0 article edits.
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2025· 11 entries
Democracy Now!: Independent Socialist Catherine Connolly Wins Irish Presidency
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CNBC: Left-leaning independent Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential election
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Yahoo: Left-leaning independent Connolly wins Irish presidential election
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AOL: Catherine Connolly: Ireland’s presidential favourite who unified the left and went viral for her football skills
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Connolly stated "Our Defence Forces exist to protect our people, our sovereignty, and
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Career landmark: president of Ireland (2025).
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“Doherty if it had been a few years later. Visit to Syria During Connolly”
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“Our Defence Forces exist to protect our people, our sovereignty, and ... to foster peace where conflict has broken out”
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Campaign: 2025 presidential election and campaign.
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Politico characterised Connolly's foreign policy views as pro-neutrality, "often anti-Western", and anti-NATO, while also highlighting her "trenchant" criticism of Israel
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Connolly remarked that "we certainly cannot trust" countries such as "The US, England and France" because they "are deeply entrenched in an arms industry which causes bloodshed across the world"
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2024· 1 entry
Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2024–2025).
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2023· 1 entry
“This document I have to hand is what the report looks like. I hold it up to show survivors because they do not have it. It is the executive summary with the recommendations and one or two other things. Not a single survivor has it. I have it since yesterday, when it was put in the pigeonholes of Deputies.”
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2020· 2 entries
Career landmark: Leas-Cheann Comhairle (2020–2025).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2020–2024).
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2018· 5 entries
Connolly joined Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, and Maureen O'Sullivan on a visit to Damascus, Maaloula, and Aleppo in Syria
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Along with Mick Wallace (then a Member of the European Parliament), Clare Daly (also an MEP) and Maureen O'Sullivan (then a TD)
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Connolly supported the repeal of the eighth amendment which allowed the Oireachtas to legislate for abortion, supporting the legalisation of abortion up to 12 weeks
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Connolly sought to hire Ursula Ní Shionnain, a former Éirígí member who had served almost four and a half years of a six-year prison sentence for firearms offences, as an administrative support in Leinster House
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At her campaign launch, Connolly was questioned about her nominating Gemma O'Doherty for the 2018 Irish presidential election
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2017· 1 entry
Opposed sanctions against Ba'athist Syria during the Syrian civil war, stating that such sanctions were untargeted and only made the situation worse for Syrians
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2016· 1 entry
Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2016–2020).
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2014· 2 entries
Was co-opted as an independent to replace Catherine on Galway City Council
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After being arrested in a stolen van carrying weapons, one of which had previously been used in a murder, though there was no suggestion she was linked to that crime
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2004· 1 entry
Career landmark: Mayor of Galway (2004–2005).
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1999· 1 entry
And was Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005
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1989· 1 entry
Before studying at King's Inns and becoming a barrister in 1991
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1988· 1 entry
Connolly has lived in the Claddagh in Galway since 1988.
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1981· 1 entry
Before practising as a clinical psychologist for a number of years
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1955· 1 entry
Born 1955-11-05.
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1938· 1 entry
In what was widely described as a landslide victory
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