Outside politics, Connolly is a passionate Irish speaker and a keen sportswoman who ran marathons and played badminton competitively in her younger years. The 68 year old recently showed off her skills on the campaign trail by playing football and basketball with children at a block of flats in northside Dublin.

Connolly’s low-profile adviser built the campaign network from the ground up, focusing on personal engagement, branding and a savvy digital strategy

Speaking after Ms Connolly's win, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald (the likely taoiseach in any unity left government), first sounded positive, but then refused to be drawn on any left-backed candidate for the Galway West by-election.

The left-wing independent candidate showed her political and physical stamina during the final months of the campaign.

Catherine Connolly, la candidata independiente de izquierda que obtuvo el respaldo de los partidos izquierdistas de Irlanda, incluido el Sinn Féin,