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AS OPPOSITION PARTIES on the left have begun to back Independent Catherine Connolly for the Áras, it remains uncertain whether Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will contest the presidency.
Galway West TD Connolly confirmed to the Connacht Tribune on Thursday that she intends to enter the presidential race. The Social Democrats are backing her bid.
Today, People Before Profit said that its steering committee has agreed to endorse Connolly. Subject to ratification by a national council of the party’s members, TDs Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett will formally nominate the former Mayor of Galway for the position.
Paul Murphy described Connolly as a “popular principled figure on the left” and said that the party is pleased that she has put herself forward as a candidate. He urged others on the left to join her campaign.
He added that having a president on the left would be a powerful political force that would enable the left “to finally end the rule of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It’s what so many want.”
The Social Democrats has 11 representatives in the Oireachtas, with 10 TDs and one senator. People Before Profit-Solidarity has three TDs.
The Labour Party, the Green Party, and Sinn Féin have yet to indicate whether they will be backing Connolly, although it is possible that Sinn Féin, given its position as the second largest party in the Dáil, will soldier on with its own candidate.
Speaking of…
At the beginning of the week, there were shockwaves as Mary Lou McDonald dodged questions regarding her potential candidacy for the role of Uachtarán na hÉireann after previously ruling herself out.
McDonald addressed a protest against the Government’s proposed repurposing of the GPO for office and retail space rather than Sinn Féin’s proposed cultural quarter this afternoon.
“This is not just a building,” she told attendees. “For generations, the GPO has stood as a living testament to the values and ideals of the Proclamation, to the vision of the Ireland that can be.
“This is just the government’s latest decision. They’ve backed a British property developer to turn the Moore Street 1916 battlefield site into a commercial space.
“Our message to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, our message to Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, is very clear. Scrap this shameful plan to use the GPO for shops and offices. Before the Dáil rises for the Summer, the Taoiseach must tell the people of Ireland that the government’s plan won’t go ahead.”
In a slightly more unexpected appearance, McDonald also showed up on screen at the Wolfe Tones gig in Thomond Park in Co Limerick last night. The Sinn Féin leader addressed the crowd in what could potentially be interpreted as a kick-off to her campaign, and sang a few lines from the Wolfe Tones’ ‘Let the People Sing’.
Mother of Jesus....!!!! pic.twitter.com/u4YaQaI9nb
— South East Military Veterans (@EastVeterans) July 12, 2025
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan told RTÉ Radio One this afternoon that Sinn Féin’s membership met and had a consultation on the matter of who the party would back for the presidency.
She said a report was compiled and sent to the Ard Chomhairle. “Everything is on the table,” Boylan added.
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I think Mary Lou McDonald is playing with the media at this stage, having a laugh, she won’t enter the race as she said previously but they keep asking her nonetheless so why not drag them along because they refuse to listen to what she has said before.
@Brian D’Arcy: it seems more like an exit strategy for her. But it’s not going well so far
@Brian D’Arcy: seems like the exact opposite and it’s now clear Cather8ne Connolly is a very popular candidate for left. Got herself into a rabbit hole now. If she runs, Catherine Connolly is already well ahead of her. If she doesn’t run then it’s hard to see her surviving much longer as SF leader as authority undermined by the “will i won’t I” parlava. Though reading between the lines she is looking for a way out.
@Tarquin Donovan: What’s a count t Tarzan?
@Brian D’Arcy: will be even more of a laugh is she does stand
Mary Lou is only winding up the media and they have fallen for it,
@Margaret Deacon: You make that sound like a good thing.
@Tasty k: Great satire by Mary Lou taking the pish out of Bertie who still hasn’t ruled himself out, lol.
The way people are going on about this Presidential election, you’d be forgiven for thinking we were electing someone to a job that grants enormous power to the office holder. It’s essentially a ceremonial and symbolic role. The powers of the president are laid out in the Constitution and are very limited. There is a Council of State there to advise the President on both their powers and their limits. Whether their views are left wing or right wing doesn’t really matter. Good luck to whoever gets elected to the position, but the elected government of the day is always in charge of running the country…
Shouldn’t put her name forward but support Catherine’s nomination.
@John McEvoy: Like I said last week she was just teasing the media a la Bertie Aherne who comically it has to be said hasn’t ruled himself out either.
@John McEvoy: why back someone who will lose, best chance of the win is the left backing Mary Lou
@Michael Walsh: just like she claims to have “won” the last two general elections?
What Paul Murphy said makes no sense (having a president on the left would be a powerful political force that would enable the left “to finally end the rule of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It’s what so many want.”)
Hasn’t he noticed that we already have a president of the left? It couldn’t have made a difference, and hasn’t made a difference, to how the country is run. What planet is he on?
@Brendan O’Brien: I find myself agreeing with one of Brendan’s posts.. it must be the weather..
@Brendan O’Brien: It’s Paul Murphy, what do you expect? An intelligent comment?
@Brendan O’Brien: The only reason Catherine will lose is if she has Paul Murphy on the hustings with her
Catherine, Mary Lou and Mairead would make for an interesting campaign at least
ABML – Anyone but Mary Lou.
@Frank Heffernan: ABAB- Anyone but a Blueshirt.
@Frank Heffernan: Wouldn’t vote for Mcdonald if she was the ONLY candidate.
@Frank Heffernan: vote No to Provo puppets
@Johnny Wilson: When are you, Fintan, Tarzan, Linton and Doe going to get your life together?
@Mary BINTon: hes a poor little sweaty dup snowflake doetroll…
@Tarquin Donovan: Tarzan love Jane and boy.
I would not support any of the names suggested so far. If the office is above politics we should have a President who has no obvious political allegiances. Someone from the worlds of sport, arts, music, broadcasting etc.
How about Colm Toibin, George Hamilton, Packie Bonner, Liam Neeson, Daniel O’Donnell, John Boyne, Marie NiBraonain.
The outstanding candidate for the office of President, William Campbell, the only living Nobel prize winner who was born in the Republic of Ireland is probably too old at this stage.
@Nodon: You lost your credibility when you typed Daniel o.Donnell
Yawn
depends who you want to shake with rugby players during the 6N.
zzzz yawn
@offside again: *hands* duh …
all orange tribe here again trying to dilute and polute the conversation mostly when SF is topic , waste of life space the orange tribe where hate is a celebration
@Tarquin Donovan: Tarzan catch fish
Paul Murphy is away with the Pharohs.
Catherine Connelly #1- no brainer!
@Philip Kennedy: the standard fare .. usual homophobic dross…..any valid arguments/ contributions? I too think Catherine would make an excellent President
A choice between the IRA’s nominee and the person who dragged Ireland’s reputation through the dirt by her effective support for Bashir al Assad?
Such choice, we are not worthy!
When Mary Lou said ” Our Muslim brothers and sisters” …. I said No ….I’m Irish.
That’s some crowd for a Wolfe Tones gig!
@Focal Cliste: they must be up there with Big Tom amongst the best Irish music ever.
I think Mary Lou should put her name forward to take over from Joe Duffy instead.
She’s been an absolute disaster for her party and the country needs an opposition with a clear message.
@Tarquin Donovan: Tarzan play with Cheetah
A SF candidate doesn’t sit well with
Can this be a poisoned chalice for either Fog Horn Mary Lou or Michelle O Neill in standing for election
It’s the classic Sinn Fein see if she will get enough support before we tie our colours to the mast! She won’t.
Could you imaging That Ongoing Noisey Kids toy (That NEVER SHUTS UP) getting elected?? Everybody would be Untenable for whatever they mastered in, Talkin’ Crap to keep the “Guests Of The State” on her side while she keeps the Real Contributors at Arms Lenght…Thanks Mary Who ( ate all the McDonalds) Might as well sit this one out…;-)
Pat the Pope for President.
Question for PBP TDs”How does electing a person to an office that is above politics by law, end the political dominance of centre parties”? Under our left wing President Michael D, this didn’t happen over 14 years, as the people who voted for him, voted otherwise in general elections. What a nonsense promise to kick off a campaign.
Mary Lou in the park ,
And Sf may reach their potential
Put your hat in the ring, and we will see your answers to a few long-standing questions!!
The job as president needs a younger person in it. We need someone that has a bit of get up and go and wants to do more for this country not sit pretty in aras an uchtairan twiddling the thumbs
Awh sure, she’s an aul scally wag at this stage!
have your say