Ireland’s approaching presidential election appears to be in the same sinkhole as elsewhere with voter apathy about both contenders. Opinion polls give Catherine Connolly, an independent leftwing candidate, a wide lead over Heather Humphreys, who represents the ruling centre-right establishment. However, almost half of voters say they do not feel represented by either candidate, fuelling concern at a possible low turnout.
A roster of potential celebrity candidates – including the musician Bob Geldof, the dancer Michael Flatley and the former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor – had prompted curiosity but none received backing from four local councils, or 20 legislators, necessary for nomination.
Catherine Connolly, 12 July 1957, Galway, is a Sun Cancer Capricorn Moon with a flamboyant Leo stellium of Uranus, Mars, Venus trine Saturn in Sagittarius, with Pluto in Leo as well. Her Mercury in Cancer is in an evasive square to Neptune. Cancer will give her a nose for whatever is popular in the culture. Leo hints at a need for an audience. Her Saturn in knowledgeable and know-it-all Sagittarius trine her Uranus, Mars, Venus will tone down the flamboyance of Leo and leave her with a ready supply of opinions. Her Jupiter in workmanlike Virgo does have her Solar Arc conjunct this year for a confidence high. Though tr Pluto may (birth time depending) be throwing a spanner in the works where one of her Mars midpoints are concerned until early December.
Heather Humphreys, 14 May 1963, Monaghan, Ireland, has a formidable Taurus Sun and Mercury sitting on the focal point of a Fixed T square to Mars in Leo opposition Saturn so fairly battened down and unbudgeable. She may have a Capricorn Moon. She looks go ahead in 2026 and a couple of Jupiter midpoints willing her on at the moment.
Neither of them are a great fit for the Ireland 1916 or 1949 charts.
Where are the politicians who inspire?
“Where are the politicians who inspire?” – Marjorie, you are so right! It is certainly the problem with the nations I know best – US & France. In the US it’s been a problem for the Democrats for quite some time (other than Obama, which is why he won twice); while there are some young Democratic stars, I’m afraid they may be too ‘leftist’ for what is really a center-right populace (compared to European politics). That’s how we’ve ended up with Trump, who has a certain charisma only MAGA can understand, but, with voter apathy that’s been enough. In France, Macron no longer inspires and I’m afraid the only ones who might are the right-wing populists.
Ms Connolly has been described as Ireland’s answer to Jeremy Corbyn! Given her past comments about the UK & US, Ireland might have to seriously increase its defence budget, rather than relying heavily on others.
There was a third candidate , Jim Gavin of Fianna Fail but he had to withdraw over a controversy with having kept thousands of euro rent from a tenant from over a decade ago; FF is facing a backlash due to this – Micheal Martin is about as useless
Everyone is fed up with politicians , they are con artists
We have dynasties of nepo babies in parliament on their 3rd or 4th generation now. Others are what we call ‘parish pump’ politicians, plenty are simply unmemorable. We could go on.
Humphries was drafted in only because the preferred candidate withdrew due to illness. The fact that she was brought on just tells you about the shallow depth of ability in the main two parties. And Connolly did not have a national profile at all.
Fianna Fáil (the ultimate in male, pale, and stale here) have been trying to promote celebrity politicians to get seats.
Their own candidate (a former Gaelic football manager, no political experience) had to drop out as it emerged he withheld a tenant’s deposit. That tenant *just* happened to be a tabloid journalist. Nevertheless it was too late to get him off the ballot, so he’ll probably get some protest votes.
We have all these parties and none of them to have anything to offer. I don’t know how long Irish politics can keep muddling on like this.