Trending 28th October 2025 by Aicha Chalouche

Why Catherine Connolly’s Success Is A Big Win For Ireland

Connolly’s passion for equality and empathy is more critical than ever.

via @catherine.connollytd

Catherine Connolly has won this year’s presidential election in a landslide victory, and is set to become the tenth president of the Republic of Ireland. Although she seems more than equipped to handle the job, her path to victory was no easy feat, as this election had its fair share of controversy, tension and hostility from all sides. 

In recent years, levels of unrest, hostility and bigotry have been rising to a concerning point. It’s become impossible to ignore the fact that many people living in this country are unhappy with the way it’s being run. Millions across the country express their disappointment in the way our current government is (or isn’t) handling our undeniable housing crisis, leading to thousands of people experiencing homelessness each year. That, on top of an increasingly unfeasible cost of living and lack of funding into public services and facilities, has naturally lead to nationwide unrest and resentment. And honestly, fair enough. It’s important within a democracy to voice your opinion and call for change when it is needed. 

However, many people across the country are directing this anger towards the wrong people. Rather than holding our government accountable for its negligence of its own people, they choose to blame minorities and other innocent groups of people – immigrants and people of colour, most often. Women too. People who are already facing the same struggles as everyone else in this country, as well as enduring the violence and hostility spread by the people who blame them for it all. 

While racism and misogyny have always been big issues in our country and beyond, it’s getting impossible to ignore the sudden spike in hate crimes, riots and smear campaigns against the minorities living in this country. It can be very difficult to hold hope that Ireland will soon be a safer and more welcoming place again, at least any time soon. 

These sentiments were reflected very heavily in the lead up to this presidential election. Thousands of potential voters across the country were appalled at the choice of candidates who made it onto the ballot. They said it was unfair, undemocratic, that potential candidates such as Conor McGregor and Maria Steen did not get the backing required to ensure a spot on the ballot. While there is a conversation to be had about that whole process, these failed candidates were known for inciting or aligning with anti-immigrant, far-right sentiments, and ignorant ideas that Ireland has spent the better part of twenty five years removing itself from. 

On polling day, 213,738 people submitted invalid or “spoiled votes”. This number made up 12.9% of the overall vote, and it’s the highest number of spoiled votes in Irish political history. This means something. Going out of your way to spoil your vote, although pretty much pointless, is actually quite an extreme measure, and reflects the direction this country will continue to move in if we keep tolerating bigoted agitators. 

But, there’s still hope. And this weekend, it came in the form of Catherine Connolly. Because the spoiled vote count wasn’t the only record breaking number to come out of this election. Connolly, an independent and staunchly left-wing candidate, earned just over 63% of the nation’s vote. She secured 914,143 first preference votes, something that no Irish presidential candidate has done, ever. This victory also means something. 

A very deserving successor of Michael D. Higgins, Connolly has spent her entire career advocating for those whose voices went unheard. Whether it was LGBTQ rights in the early 2000s, or her tireless efforts in demanding accountability and support for survivors of the mother and baby homes, Connolly has always believed that this country thrives when people are listened to and treated with respect.

The headlines that emerged during the count circled around the spoiled votes and the outrage, reminding us that our country, known for its friendliness and hospitality, is losing those qualities more and more everyday. But this landslide, historic victory of a woman who has stayed determined throughout her entire political career to put the people first, to accept everybody and not give in to the hostile, ancient rhetoric that’s being spewed all around us today, shows us that we still have it in us as a country to get out of this nasty phase we’re in.

Because she didn’t win this by magic. People, almost one million of us, took time out of our day to vote for her. To bring our country one small step towards equality and change. To stand up against the politicians, the social media giants, the wealthy businessmen who try to pit us against each other solely for their own gain. To stand up for the thousands of people in our country, our neighbours, friends and colleagues who have to endure hatred and violence in a place that they deserve to feel safe and respected in. 

This country, and in fact, the whole world, is currently struggling against a dangerous and violent wave of far-right propaganda and leadership. We might feel a lot less safe and united than we used to. There seems to be a lot more to worry about these days. But if this election has shown us anything, it’s that in the face of this rising hate, we still have the power to protect each other and bring positive change.

We have a lot more control of this wicked problem than we think we do. And one way we can exert our control is by supporting people like Catherine Connolly, who advocate for a better world that isn’t brought about at the expense of others.