On the 11 November 2025, former Mayor of the City of Galway, Catherine Connolly will be inaugurated as Uachtarán na hÉireann, succeeding another former City Mayor, President Michael D. Higgins, to become the 10th Head of State.
Both Catherine Connolly and Michael D. Higgins served the people of Galway City as Elected Members, and as Mayors of Galway City Council, prior to being elected to the Houses of the Oireachtas, and the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann.
Speaking about this historic event, the current Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard, said, “It is my great pleasure to congratulate former Mayor of the City of Galway, our new President Catherine Connolly, as she assumes her new role as the tenth Head of the Irish State. Our new President Connolly succeeds another outstanding representative of the people of Galway City and the West, former Mayor of Galway City Council and the ninth President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. It is a great honour for Galway City to have two of our own charged with representing the people of Ireland – nationally, upholding the Constitution of Ireland, and on an international stage. This is a significant responsibility, which Michael D. Higgins conducted with passion, commitment, extensive knowledge and experience. No doubt our new President Catherine Connolly, will continue that tradition with equal dedication, on behalf of the people of Ireland.”
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, Galway City Council said, “Both President-elect Catherine Connolly and retiring President Michael D. Higgins began their political lives in the form of government closest to the people they represent – in local government. Their commendable service to their local community saw them elected to represent the people of the west at a national level, and in turn, representing the people of Ireland. Public representation is a challenging role, requiring commitment, dedication and a belief in the possibility of better outcomes and a better future, for those who have given our representatives a democratic mandate. I want to wish our new President Catherine Connolly, and our retiring President, Michael D. Higgins, all the best as they embark on the next chapter and to thank them for their service to the people of Ireland, but most especially to the people of Galway, where they served as Elected Members and Mayors of the City of Galway.”
Catherine Connolly was the Mayor of the City of Galway from June 2004-June 2025.
Michael D. Higgins was the Mayor of the City of Galway on two occasions - from December 1981-June 1982, and July 1990 to June 1991