Catherine Connolly has made history as the new President of Ireland, securing a landslide victory in the country's presidential election. The 68-year-old from Galway, who was an independent candidate backed by the major left-wing parties, won with an overwhelming majority of 63% of first preference votes.
Connolly secured a record-breaking 914,143 first preference votes, outdoing her nearest rival Heather Humphreys, the Fine Gael candidate. Despite Humphreys' concession to Connolly early in the campaign, she still garnered over 29% of the vote, with Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin securing just 7%.
Connolly's victory marked a significant shift in Irish politics as she campaigned on an anti-establishment platform. Her message resonated with voters, who responded by handing her a decisive mandate to lead the country.
In her acceptance speech, Connolly promised to be "a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary." She also highlighted her commitment to addressing climate change and promoting peace, while articulating Ireland's policy of neutrality in international affairs.
Connolly will take office on November 11th, following the departure of outgoing President Michael D Higgins. The Irish prime minister Micheál Martin hailed Connolly's win as "an outstanding honour," praising the people for giving her a clear mandate to lead the country.
The opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, also congratulated Connolly on her victory, with party president Mary Lou McDonald describing it as a "stunning victory." The result has been seen as a significant moment for Irish democracy and a testament to the power of grassroots politics.
Connolly secured a record-breaking 914,143 first preference votes, outdoing her nearest rival Heather Humphreys, the Fine Gael candidate. Despite Humphreys' concession to Connolly early in the campaign, she still garnered over 29% of the vote, with Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin securing just 7%.
Connolly's victory marked a significant shift in Irish politics as she campaigned on an anti-establishment platform. Her message resonated with voters, who responded by handing her a decisive mandate to lead the country.
In her acceptance speech, Connolly promised to be "a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary." She also highlighted her commitment to addressing climate change and promoting peace, while articulating Ireland's policy of neutrality in international affairs.
Connolly will take office on November 11th, following the departure of outgoing President Michael D Higgins. The Irish prime minister Micheál Martin hailed Connolly's win as "an outstanding honour," praising the people for giving her a clear mandate to lead the country.
The opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, also congratulated Connolly on her victory, with party president Mary Lou McDonald describing it as a "stunning victory." The result has been seen as a significant moment for Irish democracy and a testament to the power of grassroots politics.
! Catherine Connolly is like the ultimate example that age doesn't matter when you've got passion and conviction on your side 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a president who's all about listening, reflecting, and speaking up for what's right? 
It's so refreshing to see someone who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo and be authentic 
. And yay for climate change and peace being on the agenda - Ireland is finally taking steps in the right direction 
. I'm hyped for her inauguration on November 11th, can't wait to see what she accomplishes 
!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole presidential election thing... like, how did we go from Justin Bieber being a teen heartthrob to having a 68-year-old woman from Galway be President? 
like, what's not to love about that? On the bright side, she seems really down-to-earth and focused on climate change and peace... fingers crossed she can make some real progress! 
also, 63% of first preference votes is wild... I guess it's safe to say Connolly won with a landslide 
. Her message of listening, reflecting and speaking up really resonated with voters and it's awesome to see that kind of energy in politics 
. I'm all about mindfulness and being present, and I think Catherine Connolly embodies that vibe too 
. It'll be interesting to see how she brings her anti-establishment platform into practice and makes a real difference for Ireland 
Catherine Connolly is literally going to shake things up in Dublin 
she's like an anti-establishment superhero 
and her speech sounds so inspiring 
addressing climate change and promoting peace? we could use more of that here 
I'm hyped for this new era in Irish politics 
I'm so stoked to hear about Catherine Connolly becoming the new President of Ireland! She's, like, totally inspiring with her anti-establishment vibe 
she's literally 68 years old! i mean, that's like midlife or something? but seriously, her campaign message really spoke to people, especially those who feel like they're tired of the same old politics. and her promise to listen and reflect is pretty refreshing. hopefully she can bring some real change to the country 
. I'm pretty sure it was more like around 40-45%. Anyway, Congrats to Catherine Connolly! 
. Still, can't help but wonder how she plans on addressing climate change without actually doing anything 
... more of that 'listen and reflect' talk, I guess 
. Guess only time'll tell if she's really gonna make a difference 
OMG, I'm so hyped for Catherine Connolly's historic win!!! 
), I couldn't be more excited to see a new face in leadership. 
It's amazing how grassroots politics can make such a difference 
. I'm all about that "listening and reflecting" vibe from her acceptance speech 
Catherine Connolly is like literally going to change Ireland 
and now she's promising to listen & reflect 
her commitment to climate change & peace is awesome 
And what about those 7% who voted for Jim Gavin? Did their votes get lost in the shuffle? 
The fact that she campaigned on an anti-establishment platform really resonated with people, you know? It's all about being true to yourself and not playing by the rules.
just saw that Catherine Connolly is gonna be the next President of Ireland 
. I love how she's all about listening, reflecting, and speaking up when needed - that's the kind of leader we need more of 
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out 