NO WAR WITH RUSSIA: Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has long condemned Brussels’ push for military buildup leading to a Western Alliance war with Russia.

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, a long-time advocate of Irish military neutrality, a staunch supporter of Palestine and a critic of NATO’s expansion and EU militarization, has won Ireland’s presidential election in a landslide.

The ballot count was still underway when Connolly’s main rival, Heather Humphreys, conceded defeat after early tallies showed her trailing by a wide margin. Preliminary results put Connolly ahead by 63% to 29%.

‘Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president,’ Humphreys told journalists.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin also formally congratulated Connolly on what he said would be a very comprehensive election victory.

Although an independent, the 68-year-old former Galway mayor was supported by all major parties, including Sinn Féin and Labour.

Connolly’s success was largely attributed to capturing the youth vote, effective outreach, and a strong social media presence, amid growing anger over Ireland’s housing and cost-of-living crises.

During the campaign, she emphasized Irish neutrality and criticized the EU’s push to expand militarization at the expense of social welfare. While critical of Russia in the Ukraine conflict, she has argued that NATO ’warmongering’ played a role in the crisis.

Moscow has long criticized Brussels’ accelerating military buildup, arguing the EU was essentially transforming into an aggressive, military and political extension of NATO.

LEFT: CLICK PIC TO VISIT ONLINE BOOKSTORE:

While the president is the formal head of state in Ireland, a parliamentary democracy, the role is seen as largely symbolic.

However, the presidency does hold a few key powers, including the ability to refer bills to the nation’s top court to determine constitutionality, as well as the power to dissolve the lower chamber of parliament and call for new elections in the event a prime minister loses majority support. You can and should share this story on social media: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

FORTY SHADES OF VERSE by Michael Walsh. In legend, verse and stories this perfect gift provides the enigmatic mirror image of the ancient Irish Nation. The Bard of Ireland’s illustrated verse crosses frontiers. The award-winning poet’s Irish blood alchemy reveals Ireland’s soul, its yearning for peace, love, justice, hope, charity and romance. CLICK PIC OR LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-walsh/forty-shades-of-verse/paperback/product-gj8rk4w.html?page=1&pageSize=4