AARON KENT
The inauguration ceremony took place in St Patrick’s Hall, and saw Connolly succeed Michael D. Higgins after a 14 year tenure.
President Connolly is the third woman to hold the office of President, following on from Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. Waterford was well represented at the Presidential inauguration as Sinn Féin TD’s David Cullinane and Conor McGuinness joined the ceremony following Sinn Féin’s successful support of President Connolly’s campaign.
Speaking to The Munster Express about canvassing for President Connolly, Sinn Féin Councillor, John Hearne, said “the most striking thing was that we didn’t meet one other group out canvassing. Not one. Nobody from the other parties, nothing. “We send councillors over to Europe, or if there is a media junket and they all show up for the picture. But this is the job, it’s really about election politics and the biggest job interview you do is on the doorstep. That’s the bread and butter.”
“It amazes me that these guys can go in-front of the media any chance they get, but they’re not out walking the roads. The career politicians won’t do the work if there is nothing in it for themselves.”
About the controversy surrounding the election campaign, John Hearne emphasised that the system is not perfect, but a system is still needed. “People can campaign to local Councils for 7 years, but I received about 4 emails in the 4 weeks leading up to election time, then some of them turn up in the election chamber looking for a nomination.”
“But do you still need a system that filters people in and out.”
In her inauguration speech, President Connolly touched on talking points from her campaign which saw her elected with 63% of first preference votes, which she called “a powerful mandate to articulate their [the Irish peoples’] vision of a new Republic.”
“A Republic worthy of its name where everyone is valued and diversity is cherished, where sustainable solutions are urgently implemented and where a home is a fundamental human right.”
President Connolly, called Ireland “a sovereign independent nation with a long cherished tradition of neutrality”, and said “our experience of colonisation and resistance, of a catastrophic man-made Famine and forced emigration gives us a lived understanding of dispossession, hunger and war and a mandate for Ireland to lead.”
“I have never believed more in the spirit of this country. Having travelled the length and breadth of the island, I have witnessed it in every county, in every corner of Ireland. I have heard it in the music, the literature and the dance of our people, in the deep tradition of solidarity and decency that continues to be the dominant force behind our people.”
With Heather Humphreys running as the Fine Gael candidate and Jim Gavin’s failed campaign as the Fianna Fáil candidate, Catherine Connolloy was backed by the third major party in Ireland, Sinn Féin.
Their support of Catherine Connolly was announced by party leader Mary Lou McDonald on September 20, with McDonald saying, “We believe that this is an opportunity to elect an Uachtarán who will be a champion for Irish Unity in our time. An Uachtarán with a vision for Ireland’s place in the world, including our proud tradition of military neutrality…
“An Uachtarán who will be a voice for citizens with disabilities, the marginalised, and those too often ignored by those in power. An Uachtarán with a record of standing for fairness, compassion and economic justice.
“And we believe that Catherine can be that Uachtarán.”
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