Labour announces it is backing Catherine Connolly in presidential election

Independent Galway West TD's bid for Áras an Uachtaráin is now backed by the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Labour

Independent TD Catherine Connolly followed up her campaign launch on July 16, above, with an online rally on Thursday addressed by Bernadette Devlin McAliskey and Fintan Drury. Later on Thursday, Labour announced it was backing her candidacy. Picture: Sasko Lazarov

Catherine Connolly says that she is “ready” to be president of Ireland as “part of a movement”.

The Independent Galway West TD announced in mid-July that she would enter the race with the backing of the Social Democrats and People Before Profit — and on Thursday evening she also received the backing of the Labour Party, which said that a clear majority of its members favoured supporting her.

In backing Ms Connolly, Labour TD Ciarán Ahern said that there would be differences between the two sides, but that Labour was determined that the values of "equality, justice, and tolerance" should be reflected in the presidency, and that Ms Connolly had those.

At an online campaign launch rally earlier on Thursday, Ms Connolly said: “The movement that we’re building stands for decency, for democracy, for courage and compassion, but it also stands for indignation, outrage, and anger.

“They’re the right feelings to have when we’re normalising something that’s absolutely abnormal — man-made famine in Gaza, in the Sudan, which is barely spoken about, and an ongoing war after the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine.

“We need to use our voices, all our voices, and I look on myself as reflecting your values, that we need to stand up and use our voice for peace in the world to make what is in the Constitution a reality, looking for peaceful solutions to war.”

Ms Connolly said that she believed the role of the president could “reflect the values that we hold dear and to celebrate this beautiful country in all its diversity” and thanked Irish people for advocating on behalf of Gaza.

She said that she had been a clinical psychologist, barrister, city councillor, TD, and leas ceann comhairle, as well as a mother.

“With all of that experience and with your help and with your solidarity, I am ready for the role of president of this country,” she said.

Ms Connolly said that she was “proud to be part of a movement with you for a better country, a country that puts the common good before it”.

Bernadette Devlin McAliskey's endorsement

Endorsing Ms Connolly, longtime campaigner Bernadette Devlin McAliskey said that Ms Connolly was “not seduced” by power and would lead “with integrity, but with a gentleness”.

“Catherine Connolly epitomises all that we wish to be,” said Ms Devlin McAliskey.

Writer Fintan Drury told the 700-strong online audience that Ms Connolly “represents an Ireland that remains generous” and “is a leader who can help time come good”.

Ms Connolly worked as a barrister and a clinical psychologist before becoming a councillor for 17 years and spending a term as Galway mayor until 2005.

She resigned from the Labour Party in 2006 after being turned down to be a running mate of then-incumbent TD Michael D Higgins.

She was first elected to the Dáil as an Independent candidate for Galway West in 2016.