OPINION: Why I proudly support Catherine Connolly for President of Ireland

This autumn is the first time I will be able to vote for the President of Ireland.

Growing up in Northern Ireland — despite being an Irish citizen and holding an Irish passport — I have never held the right to choose my Uachtarán na hÉireann. It did not matter that my mother was from Wexford or how much time I spent in the South.

This is the first time I will have a say in electing the person who symbolises so much of what it means to be Irish, both at home and abroad.

Senator Patricia Stephenson

It is a privilege to finally have the right to vote, but even more than that it will also be an honour to nominate a candidate that I believe encapsulates the values that the presidency should hold, and Catherine Connolly is just that. Catherine Connolly represents the best of Irish public life.
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She has spent her career in politics as a voice for those who are too often ignored or forgotten by the State. In her time as a TD and as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Dáil, Catherine has shown a moral clarity and a principled independence that are all too rare in politics.  She does not flinch from difficult truths.

Her advocacy for survivors of mother and baby homes has been tireless. Catherine stood in the Dáil chamber and insisted that the State face up to its responsibility for one of the darkest chapters in our history.

She refused to let survivors’ testimonies be silenced or buried in bureaucracy. She demanded that their dignity and their truth be at the heart of our response. That kind of courage, the willingness to speak uncomfortable truths and to insist that we do better is exactly what we need in an Uachtarán na hÉireann.
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Catherine has consistently stood with those most marginalised. Whether it is advocating for mental health reform, housing justice, or the rights of people with disabilities, she has been steadfast in her belief that everyone deserves equality and respect. Her work is not performative, it is grounded in compassion and persistence.

That same compassion has guided her advocacy for Palestine. Catherine Connolly has been steadfast and consistent in her advocacy on Palestine, calling for human rights and international law to be upheld. She has always demonstrated solidarity with people facing oppression. In a time when global politics can feel cynical, her moral voice has been unwavering.
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The presidency is not just about cutting ribbons or delivering warm words. It is about embodying the values of the Irish people. It is about showing moral leadership and Catherine Connolly has spent her career doing just that.

This presidential election is an opportunity to choose someone who will not simply occupy the office but will elevate it. This is why I, alongside my colleagues in the Social Democrats, are nominating and supporting Catherine Connolly for President.

Catherine will be a President who brings empathy and integrity to Áras an Uachtaráin, who listens deeply and who never forgets those on the margins.

As someone voting for the first time, my ballot will carry a special weight. It is a privilege I do not take lightly. I want to use it to endorse a vision of Ireland that is compassionate, inclusive, and courageous. For me, Catherine Connolly represents that vision.

*A Fine Gael representative has been invited to contribute a similar column relating to Heather Humphreys