PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CATHERINE Connolly “understands the immense opportunity of Irish unity”, Mary Lou McDonald said today.

McDonald introduced Connolly at Sinn Féin’s Building for Unity Conference in the Helix Theatre in Dublin as “a rooted working-class woman. A proud Gael and gaeilgeoir. A woman with a lifetime of standing up to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael”.

All three presidential candidates have said they are for the reunification of Ireland. 

The Sinn Féin leader said Independent Connolly would be a President who would uphold the cause of Gaza and Palestine.

Connolly addressed the conference, expressing the need for a “courageous and independent voice”. She spoke about her desire for a united Ireland and thanked the party for their support.

“I want to say I really treasure that support, because for the first time in the history of Ireland, we’re coming together to unite for something that’s much bigger than ourselves, bigger than me, and bigger than the differences between parties,” she said.

She stressed her passion for the improvement of Ireland’s public services, including homelessness and the environment, as well as an accessible public health system.

“We must have an integrated public transport system, and we must recognise the existential threat posed by climate change, not by naming the poorest on the ground, but by recognising that the big polluters have never, never been brought no sense of accountability with them.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys continued campaigning today. 

The Presidential Election race is a marathon and Jim Gavin @gavinforthearas was setting a great pace at the Porterstown Parkrun this morning 🏃
Lovely to meet all the volunteers who make this happen week in week out across so many parkruns across Ireland pic.twitter.com/DoW8e3PvhF

— Jack Chambers TD (@jackfchambers) September 27, 2025

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Gavin made an appearance at the Porterstown parkrun this morning alongside Minister for Public Expenditure and Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Jack Chambers. 

Humphreys spent the day in Co Cork. She visited several areas in the county, finishing the day off at a ‘Heather for President’ rally in the Rochestown Park Hotel. The event heard from former Tánaiste Simon Coveney, Minister Jerry Buttimer, and councillor and businesswoman Sinead Shepard.

Coveney described Humphreys as a “unifier” and said she is a candidate for all of Ireland.