The Irish Sprint Left
By 
One of the most remarkable political stories in my life is the transformation of Ireland from the most church dominated and one of the most conservative nations in western Europe to a secular nation with no time for the world’s bullshit. I was in rural Ireland in August and at a crossroads bar–the type of place that would be coded as a redneck bar in the U.S. due to its rurality–they were holding a Gaza fundraiser (quilts, natch). While president of Ireland is not a politically important position really in terms of legislation, it is an international representation of the nation and thus this is meaningful.
Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election, securing 63 percent of the vote to defeat her centre-right rival.
Connolly, 68, was officially declared the winner of Friday’s vote after all 43 constituencies finished counting ballots on Saturday evening, hours after Heather Humphreys of the Fine Gael party conceded defeat.
“Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” Humphreys, who won 29.5 percent of the vote, had said earlier in the day.
Polls had suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly over Humphreys, 64.
Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also was quick to wish Connolly “every success”, adding: “She will be President for all this country.”
“Her success will be Ireland’s success,” he posted on X.
Connolly, a former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over its war in Gaza and has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Fein, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.
Her campaign was especially popular among young people, who approved of her strong pro-Palestine stance and her commitment to social justice, among other issues.
The Irish remind me of the many ex-Mormons I have known in my life (this happens when you are from the West) who have been lied to their whole lives, know it, are angry about it, and have no time for your nonsense. Given how the Catholic Church treated the Irish people over the centuries and the sexual exploitation of children endemic to it, it’s like a national waking up and a determination to never go back to the old ways.