Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

As years go 2025 was a decent one for many Galway politicians.

The political Highlight of the Year was undoubtedly Catherine Connolly’s election as the 10th President of Ireland.

It’s over two years since this column predicted The Queen of the Claddagh was Presidential material but to actually deliver on that obvious potential was a remarkable achievement. Even Cat’s detractors were impressed by her debating skills, slick campaign and connection with young voters.

Here was a 68-year-old woman from a Council house in Shantalla, from a family with 13 siblings, who has risen to become Head of State against all odds, taking 914,143 first preference votes, or 63% of all votes cast.

She did so despite a campaign of negativity against her, as national media assumed the role of opposition in the absence of any real challenge from her rivals, Jim Gavin (FF), who pulled out of the race, and Heather Humphreys (FG), who was simply not at the races.

Catherine Connolly managed to unite the Left, too, by securing the backing of People Before Profit, Social Democrats, Labour, Sinn Féin and Green Party.

That demonstrated that an alternative to a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Government was possible, although far from inevitable, and the Galway West bye-election in April/May will tell us more about Left unity. Can the Left hold Catherine Connolly’s seat, with a ‘vote Left, transfer Left’ strategy?

The Presidential election gave us the Image of the Year – Fianna Fáil Councillor Peter Keane and Independent Councillor Donlan Lyons were snapped with a bunch of Blueshirts on the campaign trail for the ex-Minister from Monaghan, Heather Humphreys.

It was a good year too for Connolly’s predecessor, Michael D Higgins, who left Áras an Uachtaráin, legacy intact and as popular as ever among the proletariat after 14 years and two terms as President. Though frailer, at 84, dapperly dressed Michael D remains as sharp as a tack and gets the nod for Octogenarian of the Year.

Squeaky clean Albert Dolan is Whippersnapper of the Year. The Galway East TD is a big supporter of and too loyal to Micheál Martin but Fianna Fáil’s youngest TD, an accountant, has excelled with sums. In his first year in the Dáil, Dolan created a public-payments and purchase-order tracker that keeps tabs on how public money is spent and helps State agencies to spend better.

Gaeilgeoir of the Year goes to John Connolly. After defeating a would-be Gaeltacht Minister, broadcaster Gráinne Seoige, to take the Fianna Fáil seat held for three decades by Éamon Ó Cuív in Galway West, Connolly has excelled on Irish language media outlets – RnaG and TG4 – since the 2024 General Election. His namesake Catherine – no relation – is a close second, having vowed to prioritise Gaeilge while in the Áras.

Pictured: The Cringe Moment of the Year was in October and came courtesy of Catherine Connolly, aided by Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe and Galway West Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell. They sang John Lennon’s Imagine while canvassing in the city during the Presidential campaign.