Catherine Connolly

It looks almost inevitable now that Catherine Connolly will be the next President of Ireland, winning by a commanding measure although the final result at this time is not yet known. Over the coming days and weeks, we will no doubt hear much about the new occupant of the office and about her background and upbringing in Galway.  A quick dive into the Irish Newspapers Archive provides insights to that including two memorable moments in her career from the 1990s:

In 1991 the City Tribune reported:

Called to the Bar: Congratulations to Catherine Connolly, Fursey Road, Shantalla, daughter of Brigid and Colie Connolly, formerly of the Claddagh. Catherine was called to the Bar last week. She graduated in 1977 with a B.A. H.Dip. and then went on to do clinical psychology and worked for a number of years with the Western Health Board before taking up Law.

In June 1999 the same newspaper reported on her successful election to the County Council:

Barrister Catherine Connolly had a tough act to follow — she was one of two Labour candidates bidding to retain the seat which Michael D. Higgins took when topping the poll back in 1991. And she didn' t disappoint... a first preference total of 457 left her in fourth place after the first count. Then subsequent eliminations swept her past the rest of the Held to make her the first elected in the West Ward — and earn the title of Alderman or Alderwoman as she would prefer to be called. She had her best showing in Shantalla, and topped the poll at two ballot boxes there, taking 76 first preferences in one, and also did very well at the Seamus Quirke Road polling station — indeed everywhere, she pulled a respectable share of the vote. Originally from Shantalla and now living in the Claddagh with her husband Brian McEnery and their two children, prior to becoming a barrister she worked as a Clinical Psychologist for six years with the Western Health Board. She has been involved in Adult Education, Parenting Groups and Community Playgroups, focusing on the pivotal role of parental involvement in the decision making and the day-to-day running of such groups. Catherine Connolly worked for a number of years in the Travellers Training Centre in Oranmore. Her interest in community groups goes back a long way and at an early age was a member of the Shantalla Youth Group which set up the basketball court in the Sliding Rock. For many years she was an active member of the Order of Malta and on completion of her primary degree worked as volunteer with the Simon Community in Dundalk.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )