Race for the ARAS 2025

[Hand of God]

Catherine Connolly will make a wonderful president. I don't think anyone can deny the humanity, honesty and sincerity she displays.

Yeah, unless you are a Ukrainian being bombed by Russia.

Humphreys is uncommonly useless for someone that has been a minister for years. Useless is still much better than dangerous, but it is a disappointing choice.

Why do you feel the need to spread blatant untruths about Catherine Connolly?

She doesn't support Russia, she has repeatedly condemned the invasion and called for Putin and Russia to be held to account. That's on public record.

You are cynically attempting to smear her with lies and fabrications. You want people to think she is in favour of the Russian invasion. The opposite is true. The only nuance is that she has said she shouldn't overlook the Wests role in making Ukraine the victim of a proxy war between two superpowers.

I think you are adopting smear because you hold some very very dubious and questionable questions.

[Hand of God]

Humphries repeatedly refused to say whether she agreed that the USA had enabled the Genocide in Gaza.

Either she didn't know who supplied the bombs that killed 70,000 people, or she thinks we should be silent about who supplied them.

Morally f**king bankrupt.

Yeah that was bad work from her. Highly doubt theres many in Ireland wouldn't agree that the US enabled the genocide.

Along with the times where she asked  about 5 times whether or not she ever disagreed or criticised the EU on anything. She could not provide one specific example of such when pressed. She said in a previous interview that she would support the EU no question, that surely is a worry.

The media and government have gone at great lengths to paint Connolly as "far left" throughout the campaign. I don't know exactly what is far left about her. I would consider her positions to be moderate left. The real issue is the switch of politics in Europe over the past 15 years more and more to the right. where anything left of their position is smeared with false labels and dramatically exaggerated

Is being critical of the EU and US  foreign policy, their war mongering, their undermining of international law and support of genocide really what classifies someone as "far left" now? Is criticsing the failures of capitalism "far left"? Is asking for the billionaires and elite to pay a higher share of tax when you see the grotesque profits being made and growing wealth inequality "far left"? Is advocating for more state regulation, social housing, providing affordable healthcare to whoever requires it "far left"? I think these are much needed and very simple reforms needed in our society but the centre right ruling parties try to smear people who call and advocate for them "far left".

Its the relentless smear that FF and FG consistently engage. Imagine the backlash if Mary Lou referred to Micheal Martin as far right and a Nazi on a regular basis. Imagine if someone in the opposition referred to a gov TD as a puppet of Netanyahu in the Dail? Martin and Harris consistently behave like Twitter trolls in the Dail.

[brokencrossbar1]

The mudslinging from FFG is unreal.

How long will it be until the family of poor Paul Quinn are wheeled out to try and tie Connolly to that.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/1020/1539434-paul-quinn-appeal/

First part of that,  Humphrey's will roll in behind this no doubt with a photo shoot with Breege and a strongly worded Maria Cahill article will do the rounds. Inevitable

This is where it began actually.

Yes it is and I still stand over it at the time as history has shown me that the family have been used in the past to score political points by what I would see as 'bad actors'. Thankfully it did not emerge as such and Breege got her point across as best as she could,  maybe it was deemed that as SF were not running an actual candidate there was limited value in using her story. Who knows.

Unlike I'd say 99.99999% of the people on this board i know these people. Breege's nephew and I were very close friends for years growing up. I know the family quite well and unlike many on this board as well my actual identity on here is also quite known so I am not hiding behind a pseudonym.

There are a lot of side issues around the circumstances that saw him being murdered but that never ever justifies what happened to him. People may suspect who killed him but that is all they can do. From my knowledge of what happened it was related directly to organised crime where people involved were historically from a republican background but even in South Armagh that does not have the sway it used to. This is evidenced by the fact that loyalists and Dublin drug dealers are connected to gangs in the area. This would not have happened in the 'good old days'.

For absolute clarity,  it was a horrendous murder and if anyone can get information to the guards/PSNI that would support any conviction that should happen. My only issue is the abuse of the family by people who really don't have their interests at heart. This is something which is done all the time and not just here.

[Armagh18]

The mudslinging from FFG is unreal.

How long will it be until the family of poor Paul Quinn are wheeled out to try and tie Connolly to that.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/1020/1539434-paul-quinn-appeal/

First part of that,  Humphrey's will roll in behind this no doubt with a photo shoot with Breege and a strongly worded Maria Cahill article will do the rounds. Inevitable

This is where it began actually.

Yes it is and I still stand over it at the time as history has shown me that the family have been used in the past to score political points by what I would see as 'bad actors'. Thankfully it did not emerge as such and Breege got her point across as best as she could,  maybe it was deemed that as SF were not running an actual candidate there was limited value in using her story. Who knows.

Unlike I'd say 99.99999% of the people on this board i know these people. Breege's nephew and I were very close friends for years growing up. I know the family quite well and unlike many on this board as well my actual identity on here is also quite known so I am not hiding behind a pseudonym.

There are a lot of side issues around the circumstances that saw him being murdered but that never ever justifies what happened to him. People may suspect who killed him but that is all they can do. From my knowledge of what happened it was related directly to organised crime where people involved were historically from a republican background but even in South Armagh that does not have the sway it used to. This is evidenced by the fact that loyalists and Dublin drug dealers are connected to gangs in the area. This would not have happened in the 'good old days'.

For absolute clarity,  it was a horrendous murder and if anyone can get information to the guards/PSNI that would support any conviction that should happen. My only issue is the abuse of the family by people who really don't have their interests at heart. This is something which is done all the time and not just here.

Very well said.

[weareros]

It's all over bar the shouting but Indo doing its best to make it close. That said, this level of objections makes Paul Murphy look like an amateur in the objection stakes.


How Catherine Connolly objected to major Galway projects including bypass, new school campus, private hospital and new GAA ground

Eavan Murray
October 22 2025

On the last day of the Oireachtas term, Catherine Connolly bemoaned the lack of infrastructure in her native Galway.


"This is a major obstacle to development," she said in the chamber to �Tánaiste Simon Harris.

But in her 26 years in public life, firstly as a councillor and later a TD for Galway West, Ms Connolly objected to a series of major infrastructure projects in the city.

These include the Galway bypass, a IR£60m private hospital, expanding a major shopping centre, a new school, an offshore windfarm, and a BusConnects corridor.

They also include commercial developments, housing projects, floodlights at Pearse Stadium and a new GAA ground for Castlegar Hurling Club.

Image Gallery 5
Irish presidential independent candidate Catherine Connolly arrives to take part in the final debate of the Irish presidential election campaign at the RTE studios in Donnybrook. Photo: PA

In a blistering row in May 2004, Ms Connolly and her sister Colette were decried by former minister Frank Fahey for objecting "to practically everything in the area for the past few years".

The then-junior minister was incensed after Colette Connolly objected to the development of a cancer care facility at University Hospital Galway (UHG).

The objection was grounded in fears there would be an increase in traffic at the Shantalla entrance to the hospital.

[Fogarty]

Connolly's mission in life is to be the most difficult person in the room.

[PadraicHenryPearse]

Connolly's mission in life is to be the most difficult person in the room.

we need someone who will agree with everything and not use their judgement.

I am left leaning anyway so will vote for connolly. I also worked in the area of mortgage arrears for a decade so see no hypocrisy in her in relation to her work as a barrister.  A question for both should have been do they believe in repossession when a mortgage is in arrears and all other options have been exhausted. there are massive protections for customers in Ireland, most countries repo before legal action can start in ireland

I read some posts from pro govt/humphreys types and my X feed is full of posts from 5/10 people who post 10/15 times a day attacking Connolly, usually with inaccuracies in their posts.

Last night and all through this election I think connolly is being herself. You might not like her or her opinions but she is being who she is.

I think Humphreys is trying to be someone she isn't, I don't feel she is being natural.

I'm obviosuly a little bias.

[Hand of God]

Connolly's mission in life is to be the most difficult person in the room.

I read some posts from pro govt/humphreys types and my X feed is full of posts from 5/10 people who post 10/15 times a day attacking Connolly, usually with inaccuracies in their posts.

This is also a common tactic and used frequently by MSM journalists and govt politicians.

The way her thoughts and views on the Ukranian situation, which is for me very balanced and mature. She utterly condemns Russia and has been consistent on that since the outset but we have right wing types who continually try and portray and misrepresent her campaign here. In their mind if you are in any way whatsoever critical of the NATO, the US, the EU you are far left and pro-Russian.

Just a few posts back you can Armaghniac trying this completely baseless smear.

Can anyone show me a quote where Catherine Connolly has justified the Russian invasion?

[Rossfan]

Most Galway residents I know are voting for Connolly to get her out of the place as she's stopped just about every project for years!

[Look-Up!]

Connolly's mission in life is to be the most difficult person in the room.

we need someone who will agree with everything and not use their judgement.

I am left leaning anyway so will vote for connolly. I also worked in the area of mortgage arrears for a decade so see no hypocrisy in her in relation to her work as a barrister.  A question for both should have been do they believe in repossession when a mortgage is in arrears and all other options have been exhausted. there are massive protections for customers in Ireland, most countries repo before legal action can start in ireland

I read some posts from pro govt/humphreys types and my X feed is full of posts from 5/10 people who post 10/15 times a day attacking Connolly, usually with inaccuracies in their posts.

Last night and all through this election I think connolly is being herself. You might not like her or her opinions but she is being who she is.

I think Humphreys is trying to be someone she isn't, I don't feel she is being natural.

I'm obviosuly a little bias.

Is repossession common in Ireland? Obviously if it's a second property it's a no brainer but it was my impression it was near impossible in Ireland if it's the family home and kids are involved?

[Hand of God]

Most Galway residents I know are voting for Connolly to get her out of the place as she's stopped just about every project for years!

I'm sure that's why people would vote for her to get one of the highest offices in the land.

 

[PadraicHenryPearse]

Connolly's mission in life is to be the most difficult person in the room.

we need someone who will agree with everything and not use their judgement.

I am left leaning anyway so will vote for connolly. I also worked in the area of mortgage arrears for a decade so see no hypocrisy in her in relation to her work as a barrister.  A question for both should have been do they believe in repossession when a mortgage is in arrears and all other options have been exhausted. there are massive protections for customers in Ireland, most countries repo before legal action can start in ireland

I read some posts from pro govt/humphreys types and my X feed is full of posts from 5/10 people who post 10/15 times a day attacking Connolly, usually with inaccuracies in their posts.

Last night and all through this election I think connolly is being herself. You might not like her or her opinions but she is being who she is.

I think Humphreys is trying to be someone she isn't, I don't feel she is being natural.

I'm obviosuly a little bias.

Is repossession common in Ireland? Obviously if it's a second property it's a no brainer but it was my impression it was near impossible in Ireland if it's the family home and kids are involved?

There are many reasons why reposessions are low. Its  running at about 25 a qtr I think now. There are about 20,000 accounts more than 12 payments in arrears, for context. there are alot more than 25 people with repossessions orders but not executed for one reason or another, sheriff won't do their job, there are stays that get extend, deals done at Last minute, MTR, insolvency, reputation of banks or Vultures. Buy to let's are different, go into arrears, contract allows a receiver to be appointed and their role usually means a sale of property to clear down as much of debt as possible.

[PadraicHenryPearse]

I think the results will closer than polls are suggesting.

what county's will vote for each candidate. no research done, pure guesswork.

Guess would be Donegel, sligo, Leitrim, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Waterford, limerick, Dublin,louth, Cavan, Kildare, Meath, kilkenny that CC gets more votes than HH

Mayo, wicklow, Wexford, Roscommon,Longford, Monaghan that HH gets more votes than CC.

interesting to see which counties have more JG or Spoilt votes too as a % of vote turnout in each county.

The rest I'm not sure off.

[Hand of God]

I would think there is actually a distinct possibilty CC could well actually beat HH in her own backyard.

Voter turnout will have a lot to do with the margin. Older people are generally more likely to turn up and vote which would suit HH. The higher the turnout the larger the margin of victory I'd say.

[Blowitupref]

AI fake stuff the last effort to stop people voting?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16boG7Quap/