Ireland has long been divided along religious lines — Protestant Northern Ireland and the Catholic Republic of Ireland, both of which hold that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, have often been at odds — but the nation’s new president, Catherine Connolly, omitted Jesus entirely from her Christmas message.
Connolly’s message, posted via X, was broadly mocked for its focus on things that had nothing to do with the Christmas season, much less the Christ whose birth is being celebrated. Instead, Connolly spoke of climate change, voiced support for a Palestinian state, and praised “diversity.”
WATCH:
In this, my first Christmas message as President of Ireland I would like to wish each of you, here in Ireland and abroad, a very happy and joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. pic.twitter.com/V1Tbt6fIyH
— Catherine Connolly (@catherinegalway) December 22, 2025
“In this, my first Christmas message as President of Ireland, I would like to wish each of you, here in Ireland and abroad, a very happy and joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year,” Connolly began. “In these final days of December, as we pass through the Winter Solstice and witness the darkest day of the year, slowly but surely the days will lengthen again.”
“Christmas invites us to reflect on the values that truly matter: kindness, tolerance, respect for each other’s differences,” she continued, pausing to reflect on the number of people worldwide who were facing the impact of “interconnected crises” such as war, displacement, and climate change.
“In particular, we think of the people of Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan, our own history marked by forced immigration and loss gives us a lived understanding of the brutal realities of dispossession, hunger, and war,” she said, thanking first responders and the military for their service through the holidays and the rest of the year and calling on everyone to raise their voices in celebration of “diversity” and “champion sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.”
Irish radio and television host Niall Boylan raised the obvious point: “I’m not a believer in religion myself but surely it might be respectful to give the birth of Jesus a quick mention. Suppose that’s not her thing. She’s only president of a Catholic country after all.”
“The word Jesus seems to be missing here,” a retired London police officer added. “Along with the 1,200 Assassinated Innocent Israeli victims? Wouldn’t it be nice for once for political leaders to give a Christmas Message from the [heart] rather than a written one read from a Lectern? Many can read a script much better from the [heart].”
.png)
.png)
