Senan Molony: Catherine Connolly speaks softly, but is it more schtick than a stick she's carrying at launch of her presidential run?
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Sinn Fein to decide on candidate for presidential run in WEEKS as Mary Lou McDonald tipped to ‘give up Taoiseach dream'
A top Sinn Fein source said McGuinness' departure has thrown the Aras race wide open PREZ TALKS Sinn Fein to decide on candidate for presidential run in WEEKS as Mary Lou McDonald tipped to 'give up Taoiseach dream' SINN Fein have yet to make a decision on whether to run a candidate in the presidential election or back the Left's nominee Catherine Connolly. The party is carrying out private polling to see if leader Mary Lou McDonald has a serious chance of winning if she runs. 5 Mary Lou McDonald is tipped for the job Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 A Sinn Fein source said it would be no harm politically supporting Catherine Connolly 5 Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty could also be a contender Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Senior party figures didn't think she could beat former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who pulled out of the race for health reasons last week. A top Sinn Fein source said McGuinness' departure has thrown the Aras race wide open. The party expects to make a call on their nominee by the end of the month. And if they do decide to run a candidate it has to be one of their top tier people - either Mary Lou, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill or their finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty. The source said: 'There is no point in running anyone except one of our top three people. Otherwise, we are wasting our money and our time. There is a growing view that it would political suicide to look at any other candidate bar them and we expect to make a decision by the end of August. 'My own gut feeling is Mary Lou has a great chance if she runs — but then she is giving up her dream of being Taoiseach. The source added: 'It would do us no harm politically supporting Catherine Connolly, because it would result in most of the left wing parties co-operating behind a political name for the first time ever. 'If we're going to win the next general election and form government with other left wing parties then staying out of the presidential race might not be a bad idea.' 'Sad to see him go' - GAA fans emotional seeing Michael D Higgins attend last men's All-Ireland final as President Fianna Fail have also not decided whether to run their own contender. It is understood Taoiseach Micheal Martin is not too excited about the names being mentioned so far - Bertie Ahern, Mary Hanafin and Maire Geoghan Quinn. Insiders dismissed suggestions that Munster MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu could run, saying she is still learning her trade and enjoying her stint in Brussels. Another name being mentioned is former newsreader Senator Alison Comyn. She has made a big impression with the party leadership since arriving in Leinster House via a nomination of Micheal Martin. HUMPHREYS TOPS POLL And Heather Humphreys would lead the presidential race if she announces her candidacy, a new poll has found. The former Fine Gael minister, who has said she would give 'serious consideration' to running, would garner 19 per cent of votes, a snap Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks study showed yesterday. Ms Humphreys polled at 19 per cent, with Catherine Connolly on 18 per cent and potential candidates Mary Lou McDonald and Bertie Ahern on 14 per cent. However, the research showed there is all to play for as some 28 per cent of voters are still undecided. Ms Humphreys' is also preferred to potential runner Sean Kelly, with voters showing 21 per cent support for her over 17 per cent for Mr Kelly in a Fine Gael list. Ms Humphreys' possible campaign gained traction yesterday as party heavyweight Frances Fitzgerald said she would 'make a fantastic President'. The former minister and MEP added: 'She'll be a strong voice for integrity, vision, and unity in Ireland. If she steps forward, she'll have my full support.' 5 Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill Credit: Pacemaker Press
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Zelensky claims Russia ‘complicating' ceasefire efforts ‘coalition of the willing' meet to discuss peace
The coalition of the willing, the alliance which is planning to police a future peace deal in Ukraine, will meet on Sunday afternoon amid reports Donald Trump favours a Russian land grab to end the war. Following the Alaska summit between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday, the American leader suggested he wants to move straight to a full peace deal, rather than negotiating a ceasefire first. The shift in Mr Trump's position appears to echo the Russians' refusal to agree to ceasefire before engaging in peace talks. Several news outlets have cited sources which claimed that during the negotiations Mr Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war. In exchange, he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops. Other outlets reported that Mr Trump is inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelensky about it when they meet in the Oval Office. Writing on social media on Sunday morning, the Ukrainian leader railed against Russia's refusal to lay down arms temporarily before agreeing to end the war. Mr Zelensky said: 'We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. 'This complicates the situation.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content He added: 'If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades. 'But together we are working for peace and security. Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.' The British prime minister, alongside French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, will host the coalition of the willing on Sunday afternoon. The video conference will see allies who plan to keep the peace in Ukraine gather ahead of Mr Zelensky's visit to Washington on Monday. The Ukrainian leader is expected to attend the Sunday afternoon video call, which is scheduled to take place at 2pm UK time. Friday's summit between Mr Trump and Mr Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, ended without any commitment towards a ceasefire. The Russian president described it as 'timely' and 'useful' after he left. Mr Trump afterwards suggested it was time for Mr Zelensky to make a deal to end the war. Mr Starmer commended Mr Trump's 'pursuit of an end to the killing', but insisted Ukraine's leader must not be excluded from future talks to broker a peace in Ukraine. Mr Starmer and European leaders appeared increasingly confident that Mr Trump will offer a 'security guarantee' of air support to back up allied troops on the ground in Ukraine, should they be deployed to keep the peace. Experts have warned the face-to-face summit has risked legitimising the Russian leader, who has been made a pariah by the international community for invading Ukraine. Mr Zelensky has warned Russia may ramp up its strikes against his country in the coming days 'in order to create more favourable political circumstances for talks with global actors'.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Trump's gift to Putin revealed as dossier found at Alaska hotel detailing lunch menu and how to pronounce Vlad's name
DONALD Trump's gift to Vladimir Putin at their Alaska summit on Friday has been revealed after undisclosed details were left lying around. The eight-page printout, that was allegedly found at an Anchorage hotel printer, also showed the planned menu for a lunch that never happened. 5 US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Credit: Getty 5 Trump's gift to Putin revealed and meal plan were revealed in the documents Credit: NPR Advertisement 5 It also revealed the seating plan for a scrapped working lunch Credit: NPR Trump exchanged a warm handshake with the Russian tyrant when they met for the first time since 2018 on Friday. Despite three hours of talks, the pair did not reach a peace deal to bring the war in Ukraine to a close. But a dossier that was allegedly found by guests in a public printer at the Hotel Captain Cook has shed new light on other details of the meeting. Advertisement No secretive or sensitive information appears to be included, but the document features insight into the White House's procedure. It includes a memo featuring the names, photos and participants attending the meeting. Also included is a guide on how to pronounce the Russian despot's name - which is outlined as "POO-tihn". But it further revealed the gift that Trump planned to hand over the Putin at the event. Advertisement An American bald eagle desk statue was listed as the present that was to be gifted to the warmongering tyrant. Previously, Putin gifted Trump a portrait of himself back in March that depicted his now famous fist-pump after a failed attempt on his life on the 2024 campaign trail. Special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed this artwork had "clearly touched" Trump. Donald Trump vows full peace deal not 'mere ceasefire' after Alaska summit as Zelensky to head to White House The Alaska dossier also included details of an eventually scrapped working lunch between the two presidents. The menu would have featured a filet mignon with brandy peppercorn sauce and a salad with champagne vinaigrette. Advertisement A seating plan had the two leaders facing each other at the middle of a long, rectangular table. However, most of the major details of the widely-watched summit had been published in advance of Trump and Putin's arrival in Alaska. The summit ended with no peace deal being reached, but Trump said "some great progress" had been made. The two leaders made statements to the media following their three hour negotiations. Trump told reporters: "There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say. Advertisement "A couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there, but we've made some headway." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet Trump at the White House tomorrow for crunch talks. It will be Zelensky's first appearance in the Oval Office since his heated exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February. Putin has reportedly demanded that Ukraine fully ceded the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in exchange for no further Russian advances in the south. However, Zelensky has so far ruled out handing over this territory to Moscow. Advertisement 5 Nikas Safronov shows Trump raising his fist on stage after the failed assassination attempt Credit: Nikas Safronov
