Waterford saw two presidential candidates on the campaign trail this week, with Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys visiting Dunhill on Friday and Independent Catherine Connolly touring Ballybeg and Waterford City on Saturday.
Speaking at Dunhill Eco Park, Humphreys praised the vision of the centre’s founders and the success of local businesses:
“This is a wonderful centre. I want to compliment the voluntary board that had the vision to set this up many years ago. Well done to all the businesses here — they’re even exporting butter to America in the coming weeks.”
She linked local enterprise to her campaign vision:
“I want to open doors for Irish businesses to go on trade missions, support Enterprise Ireland, and help indigenous companies find new markets. New markets mean more business and more jobs in rural areas like this.”
On youth engagement, Humphreys highlighted her plans for a Council of Youth:
“The president should speak for our young people. I want to set up a council of youth with young people from across the country advising the president on the issues that matter to them — even cross-border.”
Humphreys also reflected on her long career in public service:
“I bring a lot of experience as a mother, grandmother, and government minister. From supporting businesses during Brexit and COVID to rolling out hot school meals and occupational pensions, I know how important it is to support communities and individuals.”
She addressed the role of social media in modern campaigns:
“Social media can be very good, but it can also be horrible. Young people are impacted, especially regarding mental health. As president, I’d want to shine a light on that and help young people cope with the dangers.”
Meanwhile, Catherine Connolly visited Ballybeg and Waterford City, engaging with residents and local initiatives. Her campaign has attracted attention online, especially through viral moments like her keepy-uppies:
“I call them ‘solos.’ Keepy-uppies happened organically. It wasn’t a gimmick — it was natural, something that just happened when I was interacting with children.”
Connolly emphasised her commitment to community inclusion and grassroots engagement:
“Family resource centres are vital. Visiting centres like the Brill Centre informs my vision for the presidency and allows me to see the real impact of these services on local families.”
On the campaign’s tone, both candidates stressed issue-focused engagement. Humphreys said:
“I’ve fought many elections. I won’t personalise anything. It’s play the ball, not the man or the woman.”
Connolly echoed the sentiment, highlighting her focus on connecting with voters directly:
“Engaging with local communities is at the heart of my campaign. Seeing people’s concerns firsthand shapes what I’d bring to the role of president.”
With just weeks to go, Waterford offered a snapshot of the candidates’ priorities: community, youth engagement, and rural enterprise.
Ireland takes to the polls on Friday, October 24th.
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