On this page in the autumn edition of Boston Irish, I previewed the race to succeed Michael D. Higgins as President of Ireland.  As I suggested, it was a fascinating contest, the eventual contours and result of which took many of us who closely monitor politics on this island by surprise.

The campaign was, to put it bluntly, an unmitigated disaster for the two parties in government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.  Heather Humphreys, the latter’s standard bearer, was widely seen as “presidential” and installed early on as a favourite.  The Presbyterian from Co. Monaghan failed to impress in vitally important media interviews and debates and wound up finishing a very distant second.

Fianna Fáil, at the instigation of An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, nominated the retired member of the Irish Defence Forces and former Dublin GAA manager, Jim Gavin.  Martin is a shrewd operator who has led his party since 2011.  It became clear swiftly, however, that his sponsoring of Gavin and his using the position he occupies to ensure a majority of colleagues got on board was a dreadful error of political judgment.

Gavin, a talented individual with a strong track record of accomplishment, was not suited to making a bid for high office.  Even though his name appeared on the ballot, he had actually abandoned his pursuit of the presidency beforehand in the wake of revelations of an unpaid debt to a tenant in a property he owned.

 It may have been dismissed as false advertising at the time, but it truly was the “game changer” she claimed it to be when Sinn Féin’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald TD, announced that her party was not putting forward their own candidate and was instead supporting Catherine Connolly TD, a Galwegian, a passionate champion of the Irish language and an unapologetic leftist.  This endorsement was the icing on the cake for Connolly, who other progressive parties, groupings and individuals had already rallied around.

Connolly had luck and timing on her side.  The left united behind her; her opponents weren’t up to the task; her inner circle of advisers used social media to brilliant effect, attracting lots of young people to her cause; and she won a landslide victory on October 24^th.  

 Three further points are worth noting in the aftermath: 1) there is considerable anger across the spectrum at the “establishment” in Ireland and Connolly benefitted from that growing sense of alienation; 2) there was an enormous number of “spoiled” ballots and much of the impetus for this protest emanated from the political right, particularly over the issue of immigration; 3) how sustainable is a demonstrably potent alliance of the Irish left?  Despite this being what’s typically referred to as a second order election for a largely symbolic role, watch these spaces.

There is no shortage of conjecture now about what type of presidency Connolly’s will be.  Michael D. Higgins was outspoken and occasionally controversial on a host of topics.  Plenty who adore Michael D. and share his socialist world view want Catherine Connolly to similarly speak truth to power, as they see it.

Indeed, she has made disparaging comments, which she has declined to withdraw, regarding key allies, France, Gernany, the United Kingdom and the United States among them.  Suffice it to say that the civil servants in the Department of Foreign Affairs, terrified by the mere prospect of a diplomatic incident, are hoping Connolly will disappoint her ideological fellow travellers on this front.

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Returning to this regrettably bumpy moment in US/Irish relations, Robert O’Brien, a national security adviser in the first Trump administration, wrote a damning piece in the Wall Street Journal in November.  It makes for sobering reading for all of us to whom the bond between our two countries is equally sacred and mutually beneficial.

O’Brien starts by saying that Ireland is a nation that reaps “the benefits of America’s economic strength and military protection while pursuing foreign policies that undermine American interests.”  He continues: “tensions between Washington and Dublin are set to heighten”; “Ireland’s president-elect embodies antagonism toward American interests”; “Ireland’s historic neutrality is no excuse for its pitiful investment in defence – roughly 0.2% of gross domestic product” (the same sentiment is oft-voiced in Brussels); and he concludes in chilling fashion that “Ireland can no longer have a free ride at America’s expense.”

This is the latest salvo in what has been a steady drumbeat of negative animus directed at Ireland, the likes of which is arguably unprecedented.  To be certain, O’Brien’s diatribe and others are aptly criticised for playing “fast and loose” with the facts.  Irish Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason gently upbraided O’Brien in a responsive letter to the editor.  Also, that many of the attacks are coming from those in President Trump’s orbit with a staunch America First and anti-Europe perspective is telling.

  Yet still – whether on foreign direct investment, military spending or the Middle East – there are many on the Irish left intoxicated by the thoughts of a fight with Uncle Sam and, more worryingly, some in the political centre who broadly seem to have an “ah sure, it’ll be grand” attitude toward what we are increasingly hearing and reading stateside.  Collectively, they are quite foolish.

 Ireland overwhelmingly (and correctly) rejects Donald Trump and Trumpism, but Irish citizens don’t get to choose who lives in the White House and they must accept the reality that most Americans do want their leaders to focus on solving problems at home above all.  In that context, and given how reliant our economy and hence society are upon US multinational corporations, caution is appropriate.

That absolutely does not mean bending the knee or compromising our values.  It means adapting adroitly to a fast changing global climate and, crucially, not shooting ourselves in the foot unnecessarily when we are under pressure.  And make no mistake, we are feeling less love than we are accustomed to from the US and Europe in 2025.

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This year, my family and I are staying here throughout the lengthy Christmas break.  We hugely enjoy being back in Boston for the week after the big day and through the new year, but there is something nice about not having to deal with the crowds at Dublin Airport during one of its busiest periods of and to embark on the six hour transatlantic crossing.

It will be wonderful to decompress – then to have a fantastic feast and a lovely couple of days with my sister-in-law and her crew in the picture perfect village of Laragh, Co. Wicklow, surrounded by the beauty of Glendalough.  As many rounds as the weather permits with Larry Óg at our favourite spot on the planet, Wicklow Golf Club, are on the agenda, too.

To top it off, my brother, his wife and their son are making the trek from East Milton.  We’ll eat nice meals, drink a few pints and watch the two, not so young anymore Donnelly cousins bond.  A trip to Galway to take in the sights and sounds of the world’s second best city and get together with our Irish relations is also on the cards.  I can’t wait.

I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2025. 

Larry Donnelly is a Boston born and educated attorney, a Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and a regular media contributor on politics, current affairs and law in Ireland and the US.  Twitter/X: @LarryPDonnelly