EIRE — Independent TD Catherine Connolly has been elected the 10th President of Ireland following a decisive victory over Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who conceded after early tallies made the result clear.
The outcome was formally announced at Dublin Castle, confirming Connolly’s commanding performance, with 914,143 first-preference votes, representing 63 per cent of the total — the highest share recorded in the history of Irish presidential elections.
In her acceptance speech, delivered first in Irish and then in English, the 68-year-old Galway TD, who has served in the Dáil since 2016, pledged to be “an inclusive president for all.” She succeeds Michael D. Higgins, whose second term concludes after the maximum 14 years in office.
“I will be a president who listens and reflects, and who speaks when it is necessary,” she said. “A voice for peace, a voice that upholds our policy of neutrality, a voice that recognises the existential threat posed by climate change, and one that acknowledges the remarkable work being done across our communities.”
Connolly’s victory, supported by several left-leaning parties and independents, marks a significant shift in the tone of Irish public life — one rooted in social conscience, inclusion, and environmental urgency.
