Who is Catherine Connolly and could she be Ireland's next president?

Times

3 days ago

It should not have come as a ­surprise to President Higgins when his former party colleague announced her intentions to replace him in Aras an Uachtarain.
Although the Galway West politicians never engaged in public spats, Catherine Connolly's refusal to comply with Labour's 'yes' ­position during the Nice Treaty ­referendum of 2002 created an awkward split between the pair.
The outspoken critic and councillor of just three years was regarded as the heir apparent to Higgins, who was then one of Labour's most formidable forces.
But she did not let her personal views get in the way of their relationship, which was evident in how Connolly reacted when her party snubbed the veteran ­politician and poet for the presidential nomination in 2004.
'I am not surprised but I am very, very disappointed,' she said at the time.
'I would be absolutely 100 per cent behind him [Higgins]. He would be a great candidate and would show great vision and leadership.'
Their core left-wing principles remained largely the same, particularly when it came to opposing the war in Iraq. Connolly joined thousands of protesters in June 2004 against the use of Shannon airport as a transit stop for US troops.
However, her patience with the Labour Party ran out when ­Higgins was put forward as their only candidate in Galway West at the 2007 general election. Growing up with 13 siblings, Connolly must have always had to fight for space, and concluded where there is room for one, there is always room for another. Pat Rabbitte, the Labour leader at the time, obviously did not share the same sentiment and ignored Connolly's signals that she would run as an independent if she were not selected.
She stayed true to word and left the party, as did her sister Colette, who was a councillor in Galway West for 18 years.
Born in 1957, Connolly grew up in the working-class area of Fursey Road, ­Shantalla, in Galway city.
In 1970, the housing estate gained national attention when numerous residents targeted the home of a Traveller woman, Annie Furey, who was awarded the property by Galway Corporation.
Connolly's eldest brother attended University College, Galway with Higgins. Her father was a skilled plasterer, while her grandfather from the Claddagh worked as a skipper. She has lived in ­the Claddagh with her husband, Brian ­McEnery, since the late 1980s and they have two adult sons together.
In her time as a local representative, the barrister and clinical psychiatrist campaigned on local issues, particularly on the need for additional social homes. However, she did not escape a number of minor controversies.
In May 2005, a 'blazing row' erupted in the chambers of Galway city council after Connolly, then mayor, claimed she was snubbed by the local soccer club ­Galway Hibernians. She took offence when Frank Fahey, a junior minister, was invited to turn the sod on the club's new all-weather pitch instead of her.
However, councillor Michael Crowe told the chamber that the mayor had received two telephone calls of apology from the committee, acknowledging an error was made. He accused Connolly of rebuffing both apologies and being highly insulting to the people on the phone.
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'As far as I am concerned, you would not treat a dog the way you treated those people last week … You made a holy disgrace of yourself,' Crowe said.
He claimed that not only had Connolly refused to attend the function because she was not the 'star of the show', but she had stopped other councillors from going. Fellow councillor Declan McDonnell even went as far as accusing her of running a dictatorship when she refused to allow Crowe to make a statement.
In her response, Connolly said she was appalled at Crowe's personal attack on her, along with his use of language.
'It's not about a club or a mayor being snubbed, it's about respect for the mayor's office,' she said. 'I think I am one of the most informal mayors to date and I rarely stand on protocol.'
The council's €1,000-a-week spend on Connolly's transport needs as mayor was also a source of contention.
Padraig Conneely, a local election candidate, revealed that a limo company had been paid €650 to drive Connolly to see Galway play Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland hurling final. Connolly said at the time that the only alternative transport was a taxi, which would have incurred further costs on the council.
Although a popular figure, Connolly failed to gain one of the five seats up for grabs in Galway West during the 2007 general election.
In 2011, she was described as the designated successor to Higgins, who had already voiced his intentions to run in the presidential election of 2011, but lost out by just 17 votes to Fine Gael's Seán Kyne.
That result was made even more ­personally difficult for Connolly as her stepmother, Bridget, died during the count. Her father, Coleman, had died less than a year before, while her biological mother, Annie, died in 1965.
When Connolly finally won a seat — on the 14th count — in 2016, her grievances against her former party were not forgotten, as she claimed Labour had 'lost its soul'. However, despite their chequered history, the party has invited Connolly to address its members next week as part of the presidential nominations process.
Her priorities upon entering the Dail were health, the housing crisis, transport and repealing the eighth amendment.
But in 2018, Connolly faced criticism after she travelled to Syria for a week with the independent TDs Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan, alongside others involved in the Ireland Palestine Solidarity campaign.
She is likely to be questioned about the trip in future debates as it took place when the dictator Bashar al-Assad, an ally of President Putin, was in power.
However, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Connolly called Putin a dictator 'with no respect for democracy'.
Any state visits by President Trump may be an uncomfortable experience for all if the outspoken Gaeilgeoir proves victorious in November.
'If we have learnt anything it is … that there are countries we certainly cannot trust,' she said in February.
'America is one of those and England and France are others. What is behind their motivation is simply an arms industry, more war, ongoing war, normalising war and making huge profits. That needs to be called out over and over.
'The government is now using what Russia has done, while not calling out America. In the speech today Trump was called our friend, Trump who has trampled on international law, supporting Israel trampling on international law and reducing Gaza to nothing.'
On the divisive issue of immigration, Connolly has long stood for upholding the rights of asylum seekers. She argued in the Dail last year that direct provision 'does not work', adding: 'It isolates ­people, creates a stigma and is inhuman … There are any number of reports and judgments telling us that this system is just wrong.'
Calls to the independent TD went unanswered but last week, while speaking to Galway City Tribune, Connolly said: 'Yes, my mind is made up to run. I've support from across the spectrum, including the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Solidarity, as well as a number of senators and others. Labour and Sinn Fein are still completing their own internal processes, which I fully respect. I'll be formally launching my campaign next week.'
People Before Profit's steering ­committee officially agreed to endorse Connolly's presidential bid yesterday. 'Catherine Connolly is a popular, principled figure on the left and we are pleased that she has put herself forward as a candidate,' Paul Murphy, the PBP TD, said. 'It's very important to have a voice to succeed Michael D Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain who continues to advocate for an equal and inclusive society.'
Earlier, the Social Democrats confirmed their backing for her, stating: 'Catherine has been a tireless advocate for progressive causes and we believe she would make an excellent president.'