Dublin: Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has been elected as the new President of Ireland, securing a decisive first-preference victory in yesterday’s presidential election.
The 68-year-old former lawyer from Galway received 63% of the national vote, more than double that of her nearest rival, Heather Humphreys, the candidate representing the ruling party. Connolly won with 914,143 votes, while Humphreys garnered 424,987 votes. Former Fine Gael candidate Jim Gavin, who had earlier withdrawn from the race after the nomination deadline, received 103,568 votes.
A total of 213,738 ballots were declared invalid, reflecting what observers say was widespread public discontent with the government. The highest rates of invalid votes were recorded in Dublin North West (20.5%), Dublin Mid West (20.2%), and Dublin South Central (19.0%).
Speaking after her victory announcement at Dublin Castle, President-elect Catherine Connolly pledged to serve as a unifying and compassionate leader.
“I will be an inclusive president. I will listen to the people and speak up for them when they need me. I will stand for peace and meaningful action on climate change,” she told reporters.
Connolly’s victory brings an end to the 14-year tenure of outgoing President Michael D. Higgins. Political leaders across party lines congratulated her, describing the result as a “triumph for democracy”.
Heather Humphreys, in a gracious statement, said,
“Catherine will be everyone’s president — she is my president. I wish her every success in serving the people of Ireland.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris also congratulated Connolly, calling her win “a testament to the power and voice of the Irish people.”
The final results were officially declared by Presidential Returning Officer Barry Ryan after the completion of counting in all 43 constituencies, where Connolly maintained a commanding lead from the outset.
Despite the unusually high number of invalid ballots, Connolly’s victory has been widely seen as ushering in a new era of hope and public trust in Irish leadership.
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