(Foireann Gaeltachta The Journal a chuir an scéal seo ar fáil. Tá leagan as Gaeilge anseo.) 

NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT Catherine Connolly has promised that Irish will be the working language in Áras an Uachtaráin during her term as Ireland’s first citizen.

Responding to a ‘Gaelvóta’ questionnaire sent by Conradh na Gaeilge to candidates in advance of election day, Connolly, who was elected as the tenth President of Ireland with the highest number of votes in the history of the Presidential election on Saturday evening, had this to say.

Irish will be the working language of the Áras if I am President. The doors of the Áras will be open and I will warmly welcome the people of the Gaeltacht and the Irish language.

“I will give them all the help and support that I am allowed, as President.”

The answer to the question, what would she do if elected President to promote the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, was provided in the questionnaire responses which were published this week.

She began her first speech with a substantial section as Gaeilge. after the election results were announced and she was officially announced as the country’s next President.  She also referred to An Ghaeilge during the English portion of her speech. 

In her opening remarks she thanked everyone present at the event as well as all those who supported her, mainly the party leaders who supported her, and who gave her “full support”. She also thanked other independent politicians, TDs and Senators who supported her as well as those who “voted for me and those who did not vote for me”.

“I will be the President for everyone in the country, everyone.

She also paid tribute to her opponent, Heather Humphreys, telling her that it took ‘confidence and courage to put yourself in front of the people of the country.

“Heather did that and congratulations. And I look forward to a gin and elderflower with you soon.

“We agreed when we were debating on RTÉ that we would have gin and elderflower together as quickly as possible. We have achieved something together.”

The newly elected President indicated that today is “the time of decision”.

“I promised during the campaign that I would go back to every seat and I will fulfill that promise.

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“This is a movement, I am only a symbol of this movement and you will continue that movement to shape a new vision for the country and a new Republic for the sake of the ordinary people of the country.

“We now have the challenge, with the parties and those who are not affiliated with any party, to rise to the challenge and shape a new republic.”

She then gave her speech in English and this was followed by speeches from Heather Humphreys, who used some Irish in her speech, as well as brief addresses from Tánaiste Simon Harris and An Taoiseach Mícheál Martin.

Catherine Connolly will be solemnly inaugurated as President on Tuesday, 11 November.

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme