Labour Party agrees to support Catherine Connolly for presidency, says Cork TD

A Cork Labour TD has said that his party has opted to look beyond issues they had with Catherine Connolly in the past to support her bid for the presidency.

Ms Connolly, an Independent TD for Galway, was originally a member of the Labour Party, but left in 2007 in a dispute over candidate selection.

Labour TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny told The Echo that they met on Thursday evening at a Labour Party parliamentary party, where they were briefed by the general secretary on the outcome of the internal members’ survey on their role as a party in relation to the presidency.

Support

“Having regard to this, and believing in our members’ views, we have made the decision to back Catherine Connolly TD for the presidency. We support Catherine as the left candidate,” he said.

“In the general election of 2024, we led our campaign based off of uniting the centre left.

“Our party leader, Ivana Bacik, has consistently led and promoted the growth and development of the left, providing an alternative to others. I believe Catherine can be to the fore on the movement.

“Albeit the fact that the party has had differences with Catherine in the past, we must overlook them on a personal basis, and look at the long-term future for the benefit of the country and the people.

“We are determined that the social democratic values of equality, justice, and tolerance should shape the presidency over the next seven years and follow the legacy of Michael D Higgins,” added Mr Kenny.

“I want to take this opportunity to commend Michael D Higgins and the role he has played in Irish politics as a whole, and particularly as President of Ireland, for the past 14 years. I am looking forward to the campaign ahead.”

Labour councillor Ciara O’Connor said she too was looking forward to seeing the campaign develop.

Legacy

“It will be a big task to follow Michael D’s tremendous legacy, and Labour is immensely proud of his tenure as president. It’s so important that Ireland has a president that will do us all proud.”

With the support of the 11 Labour TDs, as well as three People Before Profit and 11 Social Democrats who already pledged to support her, and potentially some Independents, as well as senators, Ms Connolly will have more than the 20 members of the Oireachtas needed to get her name on the ballot.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin is still deciding if it will back Ms Connolly or run its own candidate. The party’s Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, told The Echo that discussions were still happening.

“The ard chomhairle last weekend had a detailed and engaged discussion and the process is ongoing.”