Independent candidate Catherine Connolly speaks after being named as the new President of Ireland at St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle to replace Michael D Higgins, who has served the maximum two seven-year terms, October 25, 2025
CATHERINE CONNOLLY has been elected as the president of Ireland after a landslide victory, becoming the tenth head of state.
The independent candidate, backed by major left-wing parties, defeated Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who conceded before the final count.
The result, clear from early tallies, was officially announced at Dublin Castle on Saturday.
Ms Connolly, 68, from Galway, has been a member of parliament since 2016.
She won a record 63 per cent of first preference votes — 914,143 in total — the highest in Irish presidential election history.
Ms Humphreys took 29 per cent, while Fianna Fail’s Jim Gavin received 7 per cent.
Turnout was 46 per cent, with an unprecedented 213,738 spoiled votes.
Delivering her speech first in Irish and then in English, Ms Connolly pledged to be “an inclusive president for all” and “a voice for peace” that defends Irish neutrality and climate action.
She succeeds Michael D Higgins, who has completed two terms, and will be inaugurated on November 11.
