Catherine Connolly has described herself as having been "the underdog all her life" despite currently leading polls in Ireland's presidential race. The independent candidate, aged 69, is backed by several left-wing opposition parties and is positioned to become Ireland's tenth president.
The contest has narrowed to Connolly and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, who served in Cabinet for ten years. Fianna Fáil's candidate Jim Gavin dramatically dropped out of the race a week ago, reshaping the campaign dynamics.
Campaign momentum builds
Over 12,000 volunteers have joined Connolly's campaign, with the Galway TD and former barrister describing the reaction as "overwhelming". She emphasised her independence while seeking broad support across party lines.
"I have emphasised at every point that I'm an independent candidate who wants to draw support from all parties and none," she told PA. Following Gavin's exit, she hopes to "draw votes from Fianna Fáil" citing similarities between her themes and the party's traditional positions on Irish unity and neutrality.
Presidential role expansion
Connolly has outlined plans to expand the presidential role beyond its largely symbolic nature. She referenced the presidential oath to "dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland" as providing scope for greater involvement.
When asked about the extent of role expansion, she highlighted Ireland's homelessness crisis. "What is in the interest of the welfare of the people of Ireland, is it in their interest that we have over 16,000 people homeless?" she questioned.
International and domestic positions
On handling potential visits from controversial leaders like Donald Trump, Connolly drew on her experience hosting Joe Biden's parliamentary visit despite disagreeing with his Israel-Palestine record. "It's not difficult to act as a human being and to fulfil the role that you've been given," she explained.
Regarding Israel-Palestine, she advocated for UN reform and consistent application of international law. "It worries me intensely, the breach of international law on a regular basis, by Russia invading Ukraine, by Israel carrying out genocide," she stated, calling for equal standards across all countries.
Community engagement focus
During campaign visits, Connolly has heard concerns about housing, transport, carers and disability services. She promised active engagement with the Taoiseach, ensuring "both sides giving input, not just the Taoiseach, but the president also reflecting what's been said to me around the country".
She defended her employment of a woman with a Special Criminal Court conviction, receiving praise for highlighting second chances. "People thanked me for highlighting that people need second chances and the importance of that," she noted from recent Dublin canvassing.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
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