Momentum builds for Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly as the left unite behind her

Momentum continues to build around the Irish presidency campaign of independent candidate Catherine Connolly, with Sinn Féin (SF) coming out at the weekend to give their backing to the Galway West deputy. The announcement from SF leader Mary-Lou McDonald on Saturday means that all significant left-wing(ish) parties now back Connolly’s campaign, with the Green Party, Labour, People Before Profit, and the Social Democrats all voicing their support.

Catherine Connolly: Irish presidency campaign takes off

McDonald said:

We [the party’s executive committee] met this morning and the party leadership voted to support Catherine Connolly for President. This followed extensive consultation with our elected representatives and wider party nationally. We have two priorities to get Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael out of government and to keep them out of the Áras [president’s residence]. Today’s decision allows us to do that.

She went on to say that Catherine Connolly would be a “champion for Irish Unity in our time” and:

a voice for citizens with disabilities, the marginalised, and those too often ignored by those in power.

The Green Party’s Roderic O’Gorman TD (Teachta Dála) backed Connolly’s campaign by saying:

As a Party, we have been particularly impressed with how Catherine has placed advocacy against the genocide in Gaza, and the issue of climate change, at the centre of her election campaign.

The Galway West TD’s political stance is certainly well to the left of her campaign rivals, ex-soldier and Gaelic footballer Jim Gavin (selected by Fianna Fáil) and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, the latter of whom has attracted negative publicity for attending parades held by the sectarian Orange Order.

Connolly speaking out and standing up for social justice

Meanwhile, Catherine Connolly has spoken out forcefully on issues such as any potential alteration to Ireland’s “triple-lock” system which requires consent from the Dáil, Irish government, and United Nations before Ireland can send more than 12 troops abroad.

She warned of the danger posed by the “warmongering military industrial complex” and said:

We will not give it away [our neutrality], and we will not give away the triple-lock, no matter what lies you [the government] tell us, no matter what narrative you spin, we know what’s going on.

In her official campaign statement, Catherine Connolly said neutrality is:

one of Ireland’s greatest strengths, and I will defend it with clarity and conviction.

The former barrister and clinical psychologist has also criticised the failed policies on housing that have stuffed the wallets of landlords but led to homelessness and a lack of affordable homes. She can be seen repeatedly calling for more social housing to be built.

She has also strongly condemned so-called Israel’s genocide in Gaza, refusing to be compromised by the lying mainstream media’s narrative on the topic. On today’s BBC Talkback programme, she refused to rule out Hamas being part of a post-Holocaust government in Palestine, stating that:

Hamas is part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.

A symbolic position, but an important one now more than ever

While the role of president is largely symbolic, the actions and words of the Irish president are closely followed. The stances on Palestine of the incumbent Michael D. Higgins have often attracted worldwide attention, while Mary Robinson’s position as an overwhelmingly popular left-leaning figure – at times her approval ratings were as high as 93% – probably had some role in Ireland’s shift to becoming a more progressive country.

While it may be difficult to see the significance of who sits in place at the Áras an Uachtaráin (Residence of the President) when a generally inoffensive person takes up the role, the potential presence of an overwhelmingly toxic figure as president perhaps brings the position’s importance into sharper relief.

This year saw thug, rapist, and racist Conor McGregor consider a run at becoming head of state, with all the disastrous implications that would mean for Ireland’s reputation. Thankfully, he didn’t receive the support required to begin his reign of terror/idiocracy.

At the official launch event of Catherine Connolly’s campaign this evening at Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin, Labour’s Marie Sherlock said the:

role of president carries immense moral power and influence” going on to say it “has never been more important…in a world that feels like it’s gone mad.

As the planet burns and a genocide rages on, every political role takes on more importance than may have previously been the case.

Featured image via the Canary