Brussels – The hairy martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, who ran but withdrew in the middle of the race, could have been the new President of the Republic of Ireland. Instead, a placid Galway psychologist, Catherine Connolly, according to polls and analysis, will be president. The Irish elections are being held at this time, and whoever wins will become the Uachtarán (president in Gaelic) of Ireland, taking over from 84-year-old Michael Higgins. The role the winner will play will be almost entirely institutional, broadly similar to that of the President of the Republic in Italy.
The forecasts give Connolly an overwhelming 40 per cent support, compared to 25 per cent for her opponent, the former Minister of Social Protection, Heather Humphreys. Connolly is an independent candidate, but supported by the centre-left coalition. Her political vision is avowedly pacifist, an advocate of a Europe far removed from the logic of the new “western militarism.”
Her most effective statements have been against the US and the UK, accused of enabling the “genocide in Gaza”. Her very direct stances have won her widespread support, especially among young people. The university class of Ireland is crazy about her, and you can tell this immediately by browsing the web. “Catherine Connolly will win the election because she’s too pretty,” says one girl smilingly on TikTok, while artists and musicians such as the band Kneecap and singer Mary Wallopers have supported her from the start.
Critics have apostrophised her as a “radical“, but Connolly has also won popular acclaim. The aspect that has endeared her to the middle class is her ability to speak Gaelic (the official language of Ireland, spoken by 38 per cent of the population). In the west of the country, this is considered essential given the institutional role to be represented. Connolly has repeatedly asserted this, pointing out that his opponent cannot.
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“I have never criticised someone for not using the Irish language.”
Catherine Connolly said it was a privilege to learn Irish as an adult, adding that it is important for the President to be able to use it. @rtenews | #rtept pic.twitter.com/XbrhQ56bwE
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) October 21, 2025
The challenger, Heather Humphreys, has a more institutional profile. A four-time minister since 2014, she has a long history in local politics. Her party, Fine Gael, initially supported the young Jim Gavin, who later withdrew amid a financial scandal. Soon after, Fine Gael thought of Mairead McGuinness, who backed out due to health problems. Finally, her name came up. However, the candidature was penalised by this late entry into the race.
In an election campaign that was also supposed to include singer Bob Geldof (“I would have been a great president,” he said) and the aforementioned fighter Conor McGregor, in the end, it could be the somewhat “radical” psychologist who comes out on top. Her only enemy seems to be voter apathy, as about half of the population says they do not feel represented by either candidate.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
