Natokritisk socialist ser ut att bli ny president i Irland

Catherine Martina Ann Connolly (born July 1957) is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency since 2016. Connolly is an independent candidate in the 2025 presidential election. Her presidential campaign is supported by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, the Green Party, People Before Profit, 100% Redress, and several independent Oireachtas members. Connolly began her political career as a member of the Labour Party, for which she was elected to Galway City Council in 1999, and was Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005. She left the party in 2007 in a dispute over candidate selection. After unsuccessfully contesting the 2007 and 2011 general elections in Galway West as an independent, Connolly was elected to the Dáil in 2016. She served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the 33rd Dáil from July 2020 to November 2024. Ideologically on the political left, Connolly self-identifies as a pacifist. A supporter of Irish neutrality, her foreign policy views have been described as "often anti-Western" by Politico; she is critical of NATO and European Union "militarisation". Connolly has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine but also criticised NATO actions. Connolly is a staunch critic of Israel and supports solidarity with Palestinians. Domestically, she supported the same-sex marriage referendum and the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. Additionally, Connolly is an Irish speaker and has worked as a clinical psychologist and as a barrister.