Catherine Connolly, Ireland’s next president, comes from a large family in Galway and has been married for over 30 years.
Catherine Connolly will be the next president of Ireland(Image: Instagram/catherine.connollytd)
Catherine Connolly has been in politics for nearly 30 years and now she’s turning her attention to Aras an Uachtarain.
The left-wing independent candidate will become Ireland’s 10th president after she secured 63% of first preference votes in a landslide victory.
Yesterday’s election saw Catherine go head-to-head with former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys after ex-Dublin football manager Jim Gavin withdrew from campaigning three weeks ago.
Addressing the assembled crowd after being declared the winner, Catherine pledged to be a president for all.
The Galway native has served in many different political roles and it isn’t just a career for her, as it also runs in her family.
Early life
Catherine was born on 12 July 1957, making her 68 years old. She is originally from Galway and grew up in the suburb of Shantalla, RSVP reports.
The politician comes from a big family, with seven brothers and six sisters. They were raised by their father, who was a carpenter and a shipbuilder, and her mother, who sadly passed away when Catherine was nine-years-old.
Catherine Connolly is pictured at Dublin castle as she is declared the winner of the presidential election
She attended university and went on to complete her master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Leeds in 1981. She also obtained a law degree from the University of Galway in 1989.
Political career
Catherine worked as clinical psychologist with the Western Health Board in Ballinasloe before later becoming a barrister in 1991. She went on to turn her attention to politics in the late 1990s when she joined the Labour Party.
In 1999, she was elected to Galway City Council for Labour in the west city local electoral area, but since then she has held many different roles in government.
She became Mayor of Galway, a TD for Galway West, before being elected the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann.
Catherine announced that she would be running for President of Ireland in July 2025, winning in a landslide victory on October 25.
Family
Catherine has been married to her husband Brian McEnery for 33 years after they tied the knot in 1992.
The couple has maintained a private relationship over the years, however, Brian has appeared alongside as she was announced as the next president of Ireland.
Catherine Connolly kisses her husband at Dublin castle as she is declared the winner of the presidential election on October 25, 2025
Catherine and Brian have two adult sons.
Politics runs in her family as her sister Collette is also a former Galway city councillor. She served in the position for 18 years before retiring in 2024.
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