Catherine Connolly, a former psychologist and barrister from Galway, has emerged as a unifying force for the Irish left in the presidential election - embracing her self-described status as a political "underdog".
The 68-year-old mother of two, an Irish speaker living in Claddagh, boasts a political career spanning over 25 years.
Growing up in Shantalla, Co Galway, Ms Connolly was one of 13 siblings. She has spoken of becoming a "shy" child following her mother’s death when she was just nine.
A pivotal childhood experience involved a protest against a Traveller family moving into her neighbourhood.
While her "very principled" father, a traditional Galway sailing boat builder, kept his children away, she noted she "understood why the people were protesting," fostering a unique perspective of being both an insider and an outsider.
She went on to hold a teaching role for a Traveller horticultural project in Oranmore for three years while she was studying law.
“It gave me a great insight into a minority that were not treated very well by society, and yet their resilience, their sense of humour, their sense of fun, we got a whole perspective on that,” she said.
She said she learned her socialism from being a member of the Legion of Mary and entered competitions as part of the Order of Malta as a young woman. She said she was also involved in meals on wheels for older people.
As a student, she worked as a cleaner, a nurse’s aid in Germany, and a hotel chambermaid, all of which she said helped shape her as a person.
She went on to become a clinical psychologist, a barrister, a Galway councillor and mayor, and is now an independent TD.
She left the Labour party after it opted to run just one candidate in the Galway West constituency for the 2007 general election, where Michael D Higgins was a sitting TD.
In 2020, she became the first woman to be the deputy speaker of the Irish parliament’s lower house in a surprise result that saw her beat the government’s candidate.
She has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and protecting Ireland’s military neutrality, and has criticised the US military’s use of Shannon Airport.
Since declaring her intention to run for the presidency in July, Ms Connolly’s campaign has focused on Irish culture and helping citizens to “find their voice”.
Fundraising music sessions and community forums have been held as part of her campaign, with her branding aiming to pay homage to traditional craftspeople and shopfront signage.
During the campaign, she also gained attention for her footballing skills after a video was posted online of her doing keepy uppies.
The former marathon and triathlon participant said she gained the skill from her “athletic” family and from skipping – adding that she used to be able to do 100 solos a go.
