The office of the Irish President is almost entirely ceremonial and endowed with very few executive powers. Consequently, voter turnout in these elections traditionally falls below fifty percent, and this election was no exception. Nevertheless, it enjoys a unique democratic legitimacy, as presidents are elected directly by the people rather than by the government or parliament.
Catherine Connolly’s victory on October 24 underscores the profound significance of this popular mandate. Her election represents a determined political revolt carried out at the ballot box against the will of the governing coalition.
The most important aspect of this election was the formation of an unprecedented united front. In a historic political alliance, all major non-government parties—including the largest opposition party Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, People Before Profit, and the Greens—set aside their differences to unite behind the independent left candidate Catherine Connolly.
Sinn Féin’s support proved pivotal, decisively shifting the dynamics in Connolly’s favor. This broad front offered a clear alternative to the established conservative coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and proved an unstoppable force. It turned the election into a direct head-to-head contest, which Connolly decisively won against the government candidate, Heather Humphreys.
This alliance was united by clear principles embodied by Connolly. The election thus became a de facto referendum on Ireland’s future, in which Connolly’s stance remained clear and consistent. As a determined defender of Irish neutrality, she promises to protect the “Triple Lock” mechanism and steer the country away from militarization and closer ties to NATO.
She is a principled advocate for a planned and democratic path toward a united Ireland, and a long-standing activist for social justice and the Irish language. Her victory represents a clear popular mandate for these values.
Connolly’s upbringing in a working-class family of fourteen in Galway and her rise to become a barrister, clinical psychologist, councillor, Mayor, TD (Member of Parliament), and Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deputy Speaker) of the Dáil (the principal chamber of the Irish parliament) further strengthen the credibility of her principled stance.
The election result is a decisive defeat for the government. Joint attacks by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Connolly, amplified by a relentless media smear campaign, failed to secure the presidency for their candidate and ultimately backfired. For only the second time since Michael D. Higgins, a head of state was elected who explicitly opposes the government’s neoliberal, pro-militarist agenda.
Although the presidency is constitutionally limited, it wields considerable moral authority. Outgoing President Higgins demonstrated how the office can be used to influence the nation’s conscience on issues ranging from homelessness to Gaza and neutrality.
Other functions where direct intervention is possible include signing bills into law and referring certain draft legislation to the Supreme Court for constitutional review. The incoming President Connolly has already announced plans to expand Higgins’ legacy in this regard. Even when acting on government advice, she will leverage the presidency’s substantial platform to boldly champion her values and those of her voters.
Connolly’s election demonstrates that a directly elected president reflects the popular will more authentically than a government-aligned, neoliberal approach. By electing her, the people chose not only a president but a vision for Ireland—for peace, reunification, independence, and social justice—and sent the government an unmistakable signal that its agenda lacks a popular mandate.
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