Green Party formally endorses Catherine Connolly for president

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said Connolly best reflects the party’s core values on Gaza, climate change, and community resilience

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly addresses a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside Leinster House, Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

The Green Party has formally backed Independent TD Catherine Connolly as its choice for the next president.

In an email to members, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said “extensive discussions” and feedback from members and elected representatives led to the decision to endorse Ms Connolly’s campaign.

“The Green Party aligns with Deputy Connolly on a number of issues and would differ from her on others,” Mr O’Gorman wrote.

“But in areas that are core to [Green Party] values — her track record in highlighting the genocide in Gaza, her focus on resilient communities and her engagement with the issue of climate change in her campaign — we believe she is the candidate who most closely represents the values of our party.” 

Mr O’Gorman said the party will circulate details next week on how grassroots members can support Ms Connolly’s campaign.

The endorsement comes amid speculation that Sinn Féin could back Ms Connolly on Saturday.

On Thursday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party’s election decision would be a “game changer” but declined to confirm whether they would support Ms Connolly or run their own candidate.