Carlow gives warm welcome to Áras hopeful Connolly

AS THE presidential campaign heats up, one of the three (so far) confirmed candidates, Catherine Connolly, visited Carlow to do a spot of canvassing.

Catherine met locals on last Friday, 19 September, in Borris, before being greeted by a large crowd in The Exchange in Carlow town. She then went to visit Carlow College, where a brother of hers had studied years ago, followed by a visit to local art shop Made in Carlow, where she was met by local artists and was presented with some artwork by owner Maurice O’Reilly.

Cllr Adrienne Wallace said: “The response from the general public towards Catherine was above expectation.

“Upon entry into The Exchange, she was met with a round of applause from people. She then spoke with members of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign alongside a long line of other well-wishers. It was brilliant to see young school students make their way in as well to shake hands with Catherine.

“She met with members of the migrant community in Carlow, local artists and plenty of Gaeilgeoirs. We then made our way to Carlow College, where eager staff and students chatted to Catherine over a cup of tea.” Cllr Wallace added: “People Before Profit are happy to endorse Catherine. The term of the next president will extend into the early 2030s. It’s very important to have a voice to succeed Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin who continues to advocate for an equal and inclusive society, and also to highlight the fast-approaching threats from failure to act to prevent climate catastrophe and the constant attempts by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to abandon Irish neutrality.” Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson is also supporting Ms Connolly. She said: “We were delighted to host Catherine in Borris on Friday, including a visit to the Borris farmers’ market and Plur Bakery in Joyce’s pub. It’s an honour to be campaigning for Catherine Connolly – she really represents the best of public life in Ireland. She has spent her entire career campaigning for the most marginalised and those who have been ignored by the state, and that’s why I’m proud to be nominating her for president.” Voting in the presidential election is due to take place on 24 October.