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The Journal
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Catherine Connolly, presidential hopeful, gave her first press conference today — here's what she said
THE SALARY, SYRIA and a vision for the next presidency. These were just some of the topics Galway TD and presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly spoke about today during her first press conference of her campaign. Connolly said she is a not a politician seeking office, but a 'citizen' looking to serve as president of Ireland. She said she battled with the decision to run, calling it a torturous decision, but said she told reporters she made the call last week to put her name forward. Catherine Connolly speaks to reporters outside Leinster House today. So what did we learn? 'United Ireland' coming very soon Connolly told reporters that she believes Northern Ireland is 'extremely important'. 'I think we're going to have united Ireland very soon. 'I think the Good Friday Agreement has set the framework for that… I think tremendous work has been done on the ground with cross-border bodies, and I look forward to the day when we have a united Ireland. Advertisement 'I absolutely value the diversity, and we must value the different backgrounds in Northern Ireland,' she added. On the €350,000 salary and would she take a reduced amount? The salary for the presidency is approximately €350,000. President Michael D Higgins has waived a portion of it over his two terms. When The Journal asked if she would take a reduced salary, Connolly said she will 'look at the salary'. She added that she is 'open to ideas on that'. 'I'm certainly going to use it for the common good,' she said. She said she would discuss it with her team and set out how she would use the salary 'in due course'. On her trip to Syria during dictator Bashar al-Assad's time When questioned about a trip to Syria she undertook with former TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and Maureen O'Sullivan, she told reporters that she funded the trip herself: 'We went there for a purpose of fact finding. I met no member of government. Indeed, our whole thing was a Palestinian activist… I saw firsthand the destruction of a whole city. I mean, my idea up to then of a refugee camp wasn't up to scratch really, I was looking at demolition of a city. 'We were shown around by Palestinians. We stayed with them all of the time. After that, we went down to Aleppo. We met the Chamber of Commerce. We had a meeting with UNICEF. We went into a convent, and met a nun, unfortunately who has since died, and many other, many other aspects of that trip. On no occasion had I anything to do with the government, nor did I ever utter one word of support for Assad,' she said. Does she regret signing the nomination papers of Gemma O'Doherty in the last presidential election? Connolly says she doesn't regret her decision to sign O'Doherty's papers at the time, stating that she did not know her personally but saw her as a journalist who had done some very good work in the past. 'Do I support her in any way? Not at all,' she said, stating that her 'judgment call was right at the time'. Related Reads Question mark over Mary Lou McDonald's potential candidacy as support for Connolly builds Left parties begin to align behind Catherine Connolly in race for Áras Forget the presidency - Joe Duffy is now doing ads for Lidl Will she make spending in Áras an Uachtaráin more transparent? There has long been a debate on creating more transparency around the spend on the presidency. While most State bodies are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, the office for the presidency is not. The office of presidency spends about €7m per year, but the breakdown of that spending is kept under wraps. Would Connolly change that? She wouldn't commit to that, only telling The Journal that while she sat on the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee closely scrutinised the spending, stating that she would hope such scrutiny continues. She says she's not a Michael D Higgins continuity candidate Connolly told reporters today that she is proud of President Micheal D Higgins and how he has spoken out about Gaza. 'He showed courage when courage was necessary,' she said. 'I would never describe myself as a continuity candidate. I come from a family of 14, and we have all striven to have our own personalities, and indeed, we would take great exception to say we're following somebody else. I have my own vision and my own support and my own values,' she said. How does she plan to fund her campaign? Connolly said that she will be asking for contributions from supporters, but said parties that are backing her have also offered cash. 'If I had thought about the cost and what's been estimated, a quarter of a million or a half a million [Euro], I think I'd be overwhelmed, and you wouldn't stand,' she said. Connollys said she wants her message to be that 'you do not need to be rich. You do not need to have wealth to stand, nor should you need it'. 'Having said that, I will need money, and we will be asking for contributions, because obviously we need a campaign. But the stronger message is we can do this. This is bigger than wealth and money. This is about having a voice, having a vision, and reflecting the people on the ground, in all its diversity, north and south,' said Connolly. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Journal
Declan Ganley has been in Leinster House sounding out support for an Áras run
BUSINESSMAN DECLAN GANLEY is sounding out potential support as he mulls a campaign for the Presidency. The Irish Times reported this morning that the former leader of Libertas, who successfully campaigned against the first Lisbon referendum, had met with members of the Oireachtas yesterday. Advertisement Independent senator Ger Caughwell confirmed to The Journal he attended a meeting with Ganley. He said that he told the businessman that he would 'sign his nomination paper if he has the numbers'. Telecom CEO Ganley has also reportedly met with Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins. However, Collins said yesterday that his party would consider backing Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who confirmed her candidacy today . Ganley is a prominent Eurosceptic and supporter of the pro-life movement in Ireland. He unsuccessfully ran for the European Parliament in 2009. So far, Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness have confirmed that they will run in the Presidential election later this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
14 hours ago
- Climate
- The Journal
Spot flooding, local hail and lightning forecast for parts of the country on Sunday
SPOT FLOODING, LOCAL hail, and lightning is on the agenda for Sunday after yesterday's St Swithin's day saw sporadic heavy rains across the country. Met Éireann has forecasted thundery showers merging into longer spells of rain in places to round out a week of weather that is to be 'changeable and rather unsettled'. For hurling fans attending the All-Ireland final in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon, there is still some sunshine forecast. Advertisement Temperatures are to remain high, however. Highs of between 19 and 21 degrees are predicted, and there will be spells of sunshine in some parts, mainly in the northeast. Tomorrow, the day will begin cloudy, wet and breezy with continuing thundery rain and humid. It will soon clear and is to be dry with clear spells. Highest temperatures will be between 19 and 22 degrees. The east will be mildest and driest with some sunny spells. Friday will have a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, turning heavy in the afternoon and evening in the east and northeast. Western counties will be cooler. Lowest temperatures will be between 9 and 15 degrees. To kick off the weekend, Saturday will be generally dry, although the nighttime will have bursts of thundery rain leading into Sunday. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
16 hours ago
- The Journal
Australian who killed British backpacker in 2001 dies without disclosing where he hid remains
AN AUSTRALIAN MAN who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001 has died in hospital, without disclosing where he buried the 28-year-old's remains. Bradley Murdoch was convicted and jailed for killing Falconio in 2005 and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint in the Australian outback in July 2001. Despite extensive searches, Falconio's body has never been found. Police in Australia's Northern Territory confirmed the death of Murdoch and said its thoughts are with Falconio's family. Advertisement Murdoch was released from prison last month to receive palliative care for terminal cancer. In a statement , police said: 'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved.' It added: 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to [resolve] this final piece of the investigation. 'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.' A fresh appeal was launched in 2021 , two decades after the murder, in a renewed push to gather information around the location of Falconio's remains. Police today offered AU$500,000 (€280,800) to anyone with details which would lead to the discovery of his bpdy. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
18 hours ago
- General
- The Journal
Ireland's oldest person dies aged 108
SARAH COYLE, BELIEVED to be Ireland's oldest person at the age of 108, has died. Ms Coyle passed away on Monday, 14 July, ten days before she was to turn 109. She was born on 24 July, 1916. Advertisement Her grandson Thomas said that she died peacefully surrounded by her family. She was living with her daughter Marian Gilligan in Castleknock, Co Dublin. In an interview with the Irish Times in April this year, Ms Coyle's daughter spoke about her mother's childhood in Co Wicklow. She had significant memories of the Black and Tans' operations in her locality as a girl, as well as memories of the War of Independence (1919-1921) and the Civil War (1922-1923). Ms Coyle married and settled in Drumcondra, having four children, two of whom sadly died as newborns. Ms Coyle's sister Lily was 103 in April. He brother Andy reached the age of 101. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
