Paul Hosford: Could Connolly ‘coalition’ of parties win general election?

Sinn Féin's decision to join the other left-wing parties in backing Catherine Connolly may well be a dry run for a left coalition that could possibly win a general election

Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald casting her vote in Cabra, North Dublin. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

As Catherine Connolly’s final campaign event finished, the candidate was joined on stage by the leaders of the parties who have backed her candidacy.

There, triumphantly flanking the Galway woman who may on Saturday become president were Labour’s Ivana Bacik, MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy, the Social Democrats’ Holly Cairns, and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald. Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, a committed environmentalist, had spoken earlier but had to run to catch the last train home.