Catherine Connolly has described Northern Ireland as "unnatural" and said she supports a united Ireland.
Earlier this month, the independent TD launched her bid to the presidency, having received support from the Social Democrats and People Before Profit.
A gaeilgeoir, who has lived and worked in Galway her whole life, Deputy Connolly is also the current chair of the Oireachtas Coiste na Gaeilge.
On The Hard Shoulder, she explained how her work has shaped her thinking on Northern Ireland.
“I’ve been up there on a number of occasions, just quietly on the ground," she explained.
“I actually had a brother from Canada who attended an Irish course while I toured Belfast and went to all of the centres.
“It wasn’t something I publicised; I met Linda Ervine and we spoke in Irish.
“I went to the radio station in Irish, I went to Derry, to Carntogher, which is a very impressive Gaeltacht that started with no Irish speakers and they now have over 200.”
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Deputy Connolly added that she would “love” to see a united Ireland at some point.
“I felt that any time I’ve gone up to Northern Ireland, it’s like we’ve cut off our right arm,” she said.
“It’s just unnatural.”
The Galway West TD continued that any move towards unity would have to be brought about with the support of people on both sides of the border.
“Clearly, it has to be done by consent,” she said.
“Quite clearly, we have to make whatever changes are necessary to make that happen.
“But we’re a tiny country - we shouldn’t be divided.”
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn on the border with the Republic. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo.In response to Deputy Connolly's remarks, DUP MLA Stephen Dunne told Newstalk the campaign for Irish unity "hasn’t progressed one jot in the last 25 years".
"Presidential hopefuls should focus on the campaigns they can win rather than promoting divisive ones they can’t," he said.
"Northern Ireland is an integral part of the Union and we’ll continue to make the positive case for staying in it.”
Sinn Féin backing
Despite her strong support for Irish unity, Deputy Connolly said is still waiting to hear if Sinn Féin will support her candidacy.
She admitted that she last spoke to Mary Lou McDonald “some time ago”.
“I left it up to them because she made it clear they were going to have their own internal [process],” she recalled.
“I’m not going to influence any party.”
The Presidential Election is expected to take place in October.
Main image: Catherine Connolly. Picture by: Alamy.com.
