Catherine Connolly Takes Office on Celebratory Occasion and Celebration
The newly inaugurated president has vowed to transform Ireland into a “nation that lives up to its ideals” by championing diversity, the Irish language, and the legacy of decolonisation.
During her swearing-in speech, the president presented a leftwing alternative diverging from the centre-right orthodoxy.
“Many assumed that it was too great a leap, that our ideas were too radical – at odds with the prevailing narrative,” she remarked, pointing to her landslide victory.
“In shared conversations, however, it became evident that the mainstream message did not represent people’s values and concerns. Repeatedly, people spoke of how it tended to suppress, to other, to categorise, to exclude and to stifle critical thinking.”
On a ceremonial occasion at the historic venue, the experienced legal professional affirmed that as Ireland’s new head of state, she would amplify diverse perspectives and would promote environmental measures, acceptance, and a Gaelic revival.
“The people have spoken and have given their president a powerful mandate to articulate their vision for a renewed nation, a republic worthy of its name where everyone is valued and diversity is cherished, where eco-friendly policies are swiftly enacted, and where a housing is guaranteed for all.”
The presidential race outcome surprised traditional parties. The independent leftwing legislator united opposition leftwing parties, energised young voters, and trounced the ruling party’s candidate by securing a substantial majority.
Though the role is primarily symbolic, the outgoing president had stretched the constraints, turning it into a platform for issues—a practice Connolly is expected to continue.
In a ballroom packed with government figures, ambassadors, and distinguished guests, the president lamented “the normalisation of war and genocide.”
Praising Ireland’s neutrality—a potential source of friction with the government—she asserted: “Our history under foreign rule and resistance of a catastrophic man-made famine gives us a lived understanding of dispossession, hunger, and conflict and a call for national leadership.”
Connolly also hailed the Good Friday agreement and cited article 3 of Ireland’s constitution that espouses a united Ireland with consent. One political party declined to send a representative but clarified it was not a deliberate omission.
Switching to Irish, Connolly repeated a commitment to elevate Irish in the presidential office and residence. “Gaelic will not be whispered in the residence, it will have primary status as a working language.”
No nation can express its desires if the indigenous tongue used forebears was extinguished, she commented. “It has been put in second place without sufficient respect or acknowledgement. The hearts of our people were dampened when they were made to stop using their mother tongue. It’s a language that conveys emotion and meaning with each phrase.”
A artillery tribute was fired as the new president was formally invested.