“Connolly has been outspoken in condemning Israel for its two-year war in Gaza — a certain vote-winner in a country that openly sympathizes with the Palestinians and has wretched relations with Tel Aviv.

“But Connolly has gone farther, defending Hamas’ right to play a future role in any Palestinian state,” the article said. 

It went on to say that Connolly’s “Nato-critical stance on Ukraine” could generate “the most awkward headlines for an Irish government caught between the state’s official neutrality and its support for EU efforts to bolster Ukraine”. 

In the Middle East, coverage centred around Connolly’s position on Israel and Palestine. 

Qatari news organisation Al Jazeera described her as a “pro-Palestine candidate” in its article about the election, while The Times of Israel newspaper described her as “anti-Israel”. 

Al Jazeara described how Connolly’s campaign has been “especially popular among young people, who approve of her declaration that reunification with Northern Ireland is a ‘foregone conclusion’, her strong pro-Palestine stance, her commitment to social justice, and criticism of the European Union’s growing ‘militarisation’”. 

The Times of Israel said her victory has come “despite backlash over her apparent support for Hamas”. 

“Connolly, in particular, has attracted attention for her outspoken criticism of Israel and her controversial remarks about Palestinians and Hamas,” the article read. 

“Connolly later clarified that she ‘utterly condemned’ Hamas’ actions, while also criticizing Israel for what she described as ‘genocide’ in Gaza, a claim strongly rejected by Israel.”

Another Israeli publication, The Jerusalem Post, focused on Connolly’s description of Hamas as “part of the fabric of Palestinian life” while arguing the group should have some say in the future governance of Gaza. The article also quoted Connolly’s description of Israel as “a terrorist state”. 

The Australian ran a piece describing Connolly as “a nutter” and said her election was “the ultimate joke”.

“There’s a colourless establishment technocrat on one side, and an absolute nutter on the other. And if the polls are right, the nutter is going to win,” it said. 

Closer to home, in the UK, The Guardian cast Connolly’s success as a response to the current coalition government. 

“Anger over a housing crisis and the cost of living, campaign blunders by Fine Gael and its ruling partner Fianna Fáil, rare unity among leftwing parties and deft use of social media combined to make Connolly a symbol of change,” its article read. 

In a later analysis piece, Rory Carroll of The Guardian said Connolly’s win was “a stunning political feat that humiliates the establishment but does not signify a national swerve to the left”.

“The ruling parties sabotaged themselves,” Carroll said. 

“In Britain some have compared Connolly to Jeremy Corbyn and marvel – or groan – that an EU state has veered left when so many other countries have drifted right or far-right,” the article read. 

Euractiv, a publicly and privately funded news outlet that receives some of its budget from the EU, described Connolly as a “controversial” figure who “has long described the EU as neoliberal and undemocratic and has opposed Ireland’s ratification of several EU treaties”.

“Some predict her strong left-wing views on foreign policy, social justice and housing could cause friction with the conservative leaning coalition government,” it said.

Germany’s national news outlet DW said Connolly’s election was “a damning verdict for Ireland’s centre-right coalition government”.