4 d. ago Catherine Connolly arrives for inauguration as Ireland’s president – Europe live

Independent leftwing politician set to take office as Ireland’s 10th president after landslide election winYou can watch the live stream of the Irish presidential inauguration here:Irish president-elect Catherine Connolly has just arrived at the Dublin Castle for her presidential inauguration. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Selling the left’s message in the digital age is an art – Ireland’s new president mastered it | Una Mullally

From Mamdani-style visual branding to basketball clips, Catherine Connolly found her audience and spoke in a language they understoodLast weekend, Ireland elected as its next president a leftwing pacifist in the latest example of how Ireland has bucked the global trends of rightwing populism.This was not a parliamentary election – although Catherine Connolly, an independent candidate, managed to unite leftwing parties, some previously at loggerheads – behind her. And presidential elections in Ireland are different. The office itself is largely ceremonial, but the figurehead is seen as the conscience of Irish society. The Irish electorate – at least since 1990, when Mary Robinson became Ireland’s first female president (she was followed by Mary McAleese and Michael D Higgins) – has a tendency to choose progressive presidents with intellectual heft. My own theory of who emerges victorious in Irish presidential elections is that they are thematic to the vanguard of prevailing social va...

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2 w. ago Catherine Connolly’s election as president has added a new dynamic to Irish politics | Justine McCarthy

After a bizarre contest in which both government candidates blew their chances, the left has shown it can unite to winThe magical ingredient required to become the president of Ireland is as mysterious as what Coca-Cola puts into its fizzy drink, but legions of voters think Catherine Connolly has it. The leftwing, independent TD (member of parliament) with the quiet composure and austere appearance of a contemplative nun has won an overwhelming victory to succeed the outgoing national treasure, 84-year-old poet Michael D Higgins. Her choice as the republic’s 10th head of state in a contest so bizarre it might have been scripted by Basil Fawlty has left the two government parties reeling.Fianna Fáil’s candidate, Jim Gavin, hand-picked by the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, for his accomplishments in sport and the cultural bastion of the Gaelic Athletic Association, withdrew after it emerged he had failed since 2009 to refund €3,300 owed to a former tenant. Gavin’s name remained on the bal...

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3 w. ago Leftwinger Catherine Connolly to be Ireland’s next president after landslide poll victory

Heather Humprehys concedes defeat after early vote tallies show insurmountable gap between the candidatesThe leftwing independent candidate, Catherine Connolly, has won a landslide victory in Ireland’s presidential election.Her rival, Heather Humprehys, conceded defeat on Saturday afternoon after early vote tallies showed an insurmountable gap between the candidates. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Leftwinger Catherine Connolly wins Ireland presidential election by landslide

Heather Humphreys concedes defeat after early vote tallies show insurmountable gap between candidatesThe leftwing independent candidate, Catherine Connolly, has won a landslide victory in Ireland’s presidential election.Her rival, Heather Humphreys, conceded defeat on Saturday afternoon after early vote tallies showed an insurmountable gap between the candidates. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Latest poll points to commanding Connolly victory in Irish presidential race

The left wing independent TD has a 19 percentage point lead over Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, according to the Business Post/Red C poll.

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