Catherine Connolly

Catherine Connolly (born 12 July 1957) is an Irish independent politician who has served as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann since July 2020. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency since 2016. She previously served as Chair of the Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands from 2016 to 2020 and Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005. Connolly is a patron of the People's Movement. Galway politics Connolly was first elected to Galway City Council in the city west local electoral area in June 1999 and then re-elected in the city south local electoral area in 2004. In the same year she was elected Mayor of Galway. She resigned from the Labour Party in 2006, when she was denied her wish to run alongside now-President Michael D. Higgins in Galway West. She contested the 2007 general election, polling just over 2,000 votes.