Catherine Connolly: the outspoken leftwinger set to be Ireland’s next president

Independent candidate’s smooth campaign has enthused younger voters but views on Nato and Hamas may concern European allies

The lights dimmed and the youthful crowd packed into Vicar Street, a concert venue in inner-city Dublin, eyes locked on the stage.

The emcee made barbed jokes about Ireland’s government, but there was little need to warm up the audience. The atmosphere was already electric. He launched a chant. “I say Catherine. You say?”