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LAST UPDATE | 11 Jul 2025
INDEPENDENT GALWAY WEST TD Catherine Connolly is the first candidate to publicly declare that she will run in the presidential election.
The Connacht Tribune reports that Connolly confirmed to the Galway City Tribune yesterday she would launch her campaign formally next week.
“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 Féin are still completing their own internal processes which I fully respect. I’ll be formally launching my campaign next week,” she told the newspaper.
As reported by The Journal this week, left-wing parties met this week to discuss if they could unite behind one presidential candidate, with it understood that Connolly was top of the shortlist of potential candidates.
It is still unclear if she will get the support of all the opposition parties, particularly Sinn Féin, due to Mary Lou McDonald not ruling out running herself.
The Social Democrats have however confirmed they will be backing Connolly and the Labour party are due to meet with her next week.
The National Executive of the Social Democrats unanimously decided last night that the party’s Oireachtas members will nominate Connolly for president.
“This reflects the strong support throughout the Social Democrats for nominating Catherine Connolly. Catherine has been a tireless advocate for progressive causes and we believe she would make an excellent President,” a party spokesperson said.
Party TD Gary Gannon said he has been “hugely impressed” by Connolly, and that she’ll be an excellent candidate.
He told RTÉ’s News at One that she is “somebody that doesn’t equivocate in terms of standing up for what is right and decent”.
Gannon added that it “seems unlikely” that local authorities would give any other candidate the imprimatur to run.
He said he doesn’t know whether Sinn Féin and Labour will run their own candidate or back Connolly, but he hopes she can be the “unified left candidate”.
A Labour spokesperson confirmed this morning that Connolly has been invited to address the parliamentary party next Tuesday.
“Our internal processes and membership consultation are underway and it is positive that a strong left candidate has emerged,” the spokesperson said.
The meeting among left-wing parties followed on from Independent TD Brian Stanley calling on all opposition parties to back Connolly as a presidential candidate.
Last weekend’s Sunday Independent poll put Connolly as a contender, garnering 19% support among potential independent candidates.
Connolly from Claddagh in Galway, was first elected in 2016 and served as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Dáil during the last government term. She previously worked as a barrister and as a clinical psychologist.
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