Ireland’s presidential election at the end of last month resulted in a decisive victory for the left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly. Connolly won more votes and received a bigger percentage than any previous candidate for the presidency in the history of the state. This came straight after a period when it looked as if the Irish left was in retreat and an emerging far-right movement was making the political running.
The local, European, and general elections held in 2024 were not good for the Irish left parties. While there were some success stories, the bigger picture was that the traditional conservative parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, held on to power and formed the most right-wing government of recent times. They did this by aligning with the populist right to scapegoat migrants in a classic divide-and-rule strategy.
Those elections led to renewed discussion about left unity, and whether the broad left could come together to defeat not only the government but also the growing threat of the far right. Among parties and independents on the Left, conversations began about running a joint candidate for the Irish presidency in this year’s election, with many names being speculated on.
Yet one week out from the summer recess of the Dáil, these discussions looked to be dragging on, with parties undergoing their own internal processes. There was a real fear that no decision would be made until September — too late to mount a serious challenge.
That was when Connolly stepped forward, clearly indicating her willingness to stand. People Before Profit, the Social Democrats, and a number of independent left figures quickly agreed she would be the strongest candidate — a principled and independent voice who could unite the broad left around a vision of a republic that stands for peace, equality, and care. Those parties informed others that they were backing her, hoping the rest of the Left would follow.
From the beginning, we believed we could win, but…
Auteur: Cian Prendiville
