A name that’s
made its mark.
Four lives spanning public service, revolution, comedy and sport. Different stories, with a name in common.
These profiles celebrate notable bearers of the surname. Inclusion does not imply a family relationship or a shared Connacht ancestry.
President Catherine Connolly
Catherine Connolly is the tenth President of Ireland, elected in October 2025. Her public life is closely connected to Galway: she joined its city council in 1999, became mayor in 2004, and was elected TD for Galway West in 2016. A former clinical psychologist and barrister, she became the first woman to serve as Leas-Cheann Comhairle in 2020. Her career gives this collection a direct connection to Connacht.
Official presidential biography ↗
James Connolly
Born in Edinburgh to Irish parents, James Connolly became a socialist writer, trade union organiser and a leading figure in the struggle for Irish independence. He led the Irish Citizen Army and was one of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. During the Easter Rising he directed military operations in Dublin from the GPO. Wounded during the fighting, he was executed at Kilmainham Gaol on 12 May 1916.
National Library of Ireland biography ↗
Sir Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly built an international career through stand-up comedy, acting, music and television. His early working life as a Clyde shipyard welder gave way to folk music with the Humblebums and then the storytelling that made him famous. His television travel programmes brought his curiosity and humour to audiences around the world. In 2022, BAFTA awarded him its Fellowship, recognising his exceptional contribution to entertainment.
BAFTA career profile ↗
Maureen Connolly Brinker
Known as “Little Mo”, American tennis champion Maureen Connolly became the first woman to win all four major singles championships in a single calendar year. She completed that Grand Slam in 1953, aged just eighteen. Her extraordinary achievements made her one of the defining players of her generation and earned her a place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
International Tennis Hall of Fame biography ↗Is there another Connolly whose story belongs here? Send us a suggestion →
Biographies reviewed October 2026. Photographs are credited individually.