History of Catherine Connolly in Timeline

Catherine Connolly is an Irish independent politician serving as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Galway West since 2016. She is running as an independent candidate in the 2025 presidential election, supported by a coalition including Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, Labour, Green Party, People Before Profit, 100% Redress, and various independent Oireachtas members. Connolly's political career is marked by her independent stance and broad support across the political spectrum.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1988: Move to the Claddagh

In 1988, Catherine Connolly moved to the Claddagh in Galway City, where she has lived since.

1999: Elected to Galway City Council

In 1999, Catherine Connolly was elected to Galway City Council as a member of the Labour Party, marking the beginning of her political career.

2002: Opposition to the Treaty of Nice

In 2002, Catherine Connolly opposed the ratification of the Treaty of Nice in the referendum.

2004: Switched electoral area and elected Mayor of Galway

In 2004, Catherine Connolly switched to the south city local electoral area for the council election to allow her sister to contest the election in the west area of the city. Both were elected. In the same year, Connolly was elected Mayor of Galway, leading Labour into a power-sharing agreement.

2004: Opposition to the Iraq War

In 2004, while Mayor of Galway, Catherine Connolly spoke in opposition to the Iraq War.

2005: Mayor of Galway

In 2005, Catherine Connolly served as the Mayor of Galway, a position she used to voice her opposition to the Iraq War.

2014: Colette Connolly loses seat

In 2014, Colette Connolly, Catherine Connolly's sister, lost her seat as a Labour councillor.

April 2016: Maiden Speech in Dáil Éireann

In April 2016, at the 32nd Dáil's second meeting, Catherine Connolly delivered her maiden speech, during which she criticized Minister Alan Kelly's handling of Ireland's homelessness crisis.

2016: Views on the UK's EU Membership Referendum

In 2016, Catherine Connolly expressed sympathies with the "leave" campaign in the United Kingdom's European Union membership referendum. She criticized the Irish government's efforts to influence the British electorate to remain in the EU and claimed there was a "democratic deficit" within the EU, where dissent was not tolerated.

2016: Elected to Dáil Éireann

In 2016, Catherine Connolly was elected to Dáil Éireann (the Irish Parliament) for the Galway West constituency, marking a significant milestone in her political career after previous unsuccessful attempts in 2007 and 2011.

2017: Opposition to Sanctions Against Syria

In 2017, Catherine Connolly opposed sanctions against Ba'athist Syria during the Syrian civil war, arguing that they were untargeted and worsened the situation for Syrians.

2018: Visit to Syria

In 2018, Catherine Connolly joined Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, and Maureen O'Sullivan on a visit to Damascus, Maaloula, and Aleppo in Syria.

2018: Nominated Gemma O'Doherty for President

In 2018, Catherine Connolly was one of eleven Oireachtas members who nominated Gemma O'Doherty for the Irish presidential election.

July 2020: Elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle

In July 2020, Catherine Connolly was elected the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, becoming the first woman to hold the position. This was a surprise victory over Fine Gael candidate Fergus O'Dowd.

April 2025: Call for solidarity with Palestine

In April 2025, Catherine Connolly called for solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Dáil and urged for an end to what she described as a genocide occurring in their name, making them complicit.

May 2025: Described as socialist and republican

In May 2025, The Phoenix magazine described Catherine Connolly as a "long-time socialist" who had been regarded as "left-wing" and an "Irish republican" during her time in Labour.

August 2025: Interviewed at An Táin Arts Centre

On August 30, 2025, Catherine Connolly was interviewed about her candidacy and connections to Dundalk at the An Táin Arts Centre in County Louth as part of her presidential campaign.

September 2025: Attends National Ploughing Championships

In September 2025, Catherine Connolly attended the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, County Offaly, where she was interviewed about rural and agricultural life in Ireland and her presidential candidacy.

September 2025: Connolly clarified stance on Provisional IRA

In September 2025, Catherine Connolly clarified that she never supported the Provisional IRA during the Troubles and feels that "violence was never justified" during that time period.

September 2025: Connolly Addresses Gemma O'Doherty Nomination

In September 2025, Catherine Connolly stated that she would not have nominated Gemma O'Doherty for the 2018 Irish presidential election if it had been a few years later.

September 2025: Visits County Donegal

In September 2025, Catherine Connolly visited County Donegal, meeting with county councillors, sitting TD Charles Ward, Senator Eileen Flynn and former TD Thomas Pringle.

2025: Presidential Election Candidate

In 2025, Catherine Connolly ran as an independent candidate in the presidential election. Her campaign received support from Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, People Before Profit, the Green Party, 100% Redress, and several independent Oireachtas members.

2025: Remarks on Ireland's Peace

In 2025, Catherine Connolly voiced concerns about the threats to Ireland's peace from the "war-mongering military industrial complex" in Europe. She stated a lack of trust in countries like the US, England, and France due to their deep involvement in the arms industry.

2025: Defended Syria Trip

In 2025, when launching her presidential campaign, Catherine Connolly defended the 2018 trip to Syria, stating that she funded the trip herself and did not support Assad.

2025: Respect for Wallace and Daly

In a 2025 interview with Hot Press, Catherine Connolly stated she had "the greatest of respect" for Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, who have been identified as political allies.

2025: EU Criticism on Europe Day

On Europe Day in 2025, Catherine Connolly declared she was "ashamed to be European" due to the EU leadership being pro-Israel. She also criticized the EU's increasing militarization under Ursula von der Leyen and the European People's Party.