Catherine Martina Ann Connolly (born 12 July 1957) is an Irish politician serving as the president of Ireland since 11 November 2025. She had been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency from 2016 until her election as president in 2025.

Born in Galway, Connolly began her political career as a member of the Labour Party, for which she was elected to Galway City Council in 1999, and was Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005. She left the party in 2006 in a dispute over candidate selection. After unsuccessfully contesting the 2007 and 2011 general elections in Galway West as an independent, Connolly was elected to the Dáil in 2016. She became Ireland's first female Leas-Cheann Comhairle, serving in the 33rd Dáil from July 2020 to November 2024. Connolly ran as an independent candidate in the 2025 presidential election, supported by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, People Before Profit, the Green Party, 100% Redress, and several independent Oireachtas members. She defeated Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin in a landslide victory, becoming the third woman to be elected president of Ireland.

Ideologically left-wing, Connolly describes herself as a socialist and pacifist. A supporter of Irish neutrality, her foreign policy views were described by Politico as "often anti-Western"; she is critical of NATO, the European Union's increased military and defence spending and general European militarisation. Connolly has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has also described NATO's attitude toward Russia as "warmongering". An outspoken supporter of Palestine, Connolly is a staunch critic of Israel and has called it a "genocidal state". Connolly advocates for Irish reunification. Domestically, she supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage and the legalisation of abortion. Connolly is an Irish speaker and has previously worked as a clinical psychologist and as a barrister.

Catherine Martina Ann Connolly was born on 12 July 1957 and grew up in Shantalla, Galway City, the ninth of 14 siblings (seven boys and seven girls). Her father was a carpenter and a shipbuilder, who built Galway hooker sailing boats. Her mother died at the age of 43, when Connolly was nine years old, her death suspected to have been caused by issues related to asthma. The family grew up in one of Galway's first social housing developments. In the 1970s, Connolly led a campaign to have tennis courts built in Shantalla.

Connolly has stated that she "learned her socialism" growing up through early volunteering. She participated in activities with the Legion of Mary, including house cleaning and hospital visits, and continued volunteering in later years with the Order of Malta.

Connolly earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Galway in the late 1970s and a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Leeds in 1981 before practising as a clinical psychologist for a number of years.

Connolly subsequently earned a law degree from the University of Galway in 1989 before studying at King's Inns and becoming a barrister in 1991.

Connolly practised as a barrister, mostly on the Western Circuit, with a general practice, mainly in the areas of family law and personal injury law, from 1991 until she was elected to Dáil Éireann in 2016.