A Presidency for All Ireland

By Soapbox on 8 October 2025

Catherine Connolly TD is a candidate for President of Ireland. She writes for Slugger about her vision for the office.

Is le muintir na hÉireann, ó chearn cearn na tíre, Uachtaránacht na hÉireann. Is le creideamh daingean agus dóchas croí a deirim an méid sin ach caithfear a bheith soiléir nach siombalachas nó deasghnáth a bheas i gceist leis an Uachtaránacht faoi mo chúram ach Uachtaránacht fréamhaithe i meas, i gcomhrá agus i dtiomantas dúthrachtach dimhuintir uile na hÉireann.

When I stand for the Presidency, I do so in the belief that the office must belong to all the people of this island. It must be rooted in respect, in dialogue, and in the conviction that every community has a rightful place in the Ireland we are building together.

The Good Friday Agreement, now more than 25 years old, gave us a framework for peace and reconciliation. It laid down the rules for how constitutional change may come about. That agreement is our compass. It tells us that a new Ireland must be created through consent, dialogue, and preparation.

The next phase of our peace process must be about breaking down barriers; in building understanding; and in preparing for the likelihood of constitutional change.

If elected President, I will use the soft power and moral authority of the office to foster that spirit of inclusion and dialogue.

A Shared Future

The Ireland I envision is one in which all traditions – nationalist, unionist and those newer arrivals to Ireland’s shores – are valued and respected. We need to build a shared future where all feel part of the nation.

That is why I want to state clearly – the long and illustrious tradition of Irish Protestantism, and of British identity in Ireland must and will be respected. It is part of our story as a nation. A truly united Ireland must be generous enough to embrace that.

Bringing People Together

As President, my objective would not be to dictate political outcomes. That is for the people to decide. My role would be to bring people together, to encourage dialogue, and to reveal the values that unite us – fairness, dignity, and a shared commitment to peace.

I would make it a priority to spend meaningful time in the North, engaging not only with civic leaders but with communities, schools, cultural groups and sporting organisations.

I also make a firm commitment that the Áras will belong to people in the North as much as those in the South. I will ensure the doors of Áras an Uachtaráin are open to individuals and organisations from across the North of Ireland. That house must be a home for the whole nation.

Facilitating Full Participation

But inclusion must go beyond symbolism. We need to ensure that people in the North are facilitated and encouraged to play a full part in the life of the Irish nation. That means ensuring they are represented, heard, and visible in the civic and cultural life of our country. It means extending invitations to communities in the North to participate in national conversations, commemorations, cultural festivals and public debates. It means recognising that their experiences enrich our national story.

For too long, Northerners have been excluded from full participation in national life and public discourse. That must end. The people of Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, Antrim, Down and Armagh are equal partners in the shared life of Ireland. As President, I will be steadfast in promoting that principle.

Dialogue, Preparation, and Democratic Rights

We know from our history that peace is not static – it must be nourished, deepened, and renewed. That means preparing responsibly for the possibility of constitutional change. Preparation does not mean predetermining outcomes. It means creating the conditions in which every community can have confidence that its voice will be heard and its identity respected.

Dialogue is the path forward. Not every conversation will be easy, but all are necessary. The role of President is uniquely placed to encourage those conversations in a spirit of fairness and generosity.

And let me be clear: I believe that the people of Northern Ireland should not only be included in the life of the Presidency, but in its election. The Irish Constitutional Convention in 2013 recommended that citizens in the North have the right to vote in future Presidential elections. That recommendation has not yet been acted upon, but I fully support it. A President for all the people of Ireland must be elected by all the people of Ireland.

A Presidency of Inclusion

The Presidency should reflect the best of us – compassion, fairness, respect for difference, and hope for the future. That is the Presidency I want to offer.

To unionists, I say – your identity and traditions must never be diminished. To nationalists, I say – your aspirations must be pursued with generosity and respect. To those who belong to neither tradition, or who are new to Ireland, I say – you too are central to the shared Ireland we are building.

The Good Friday Agreement gave us peace. The next step is building unity. Not simply political unity, but human unity – the breaking down of barriers and the creation of real understanding. That will be my guiding objective as President – to be a unifying presence, to include the North fully in the life of the Áras, and to ensure that every citizen, north and south, has their rightful voice in the Presidency that belongs to us all.

It is long past time for the government to act on the Constitutional Convention’s recommendation.

If we truly believe in an all-Ireland Presidency, then the people in the North must be given their democratic right to vote in Presidential elections. Nothing less will do.

Geallaim seo daoibh, go ndéanfaidh mé, mar Uachtarán, beart de réir mo bhriathair, go mbeidh comhionannas, ionchuimsiú agus cómhaoin ag croína hUachtaránachta agam. Beidh doras an Árais chomh hoscailte céanna dóibh siúd ó na Sé Contaetha agus a bheidh dó mhuintir na hÉireann ar fad. Tuigim go maith nach ar leibhéal polaitiúil amháin ach ar leibhéal daonna a bhaineann an Uachtaránacht leis na daoine agus ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad ar sin.

C. Connolly. 8 October 2025. A Presidency for All Ireland. Slugger O’Toole. https://sluggerotoole.com/2025/10/08/a-presidency-for-all-ireland/#respond.