Ireland's presidential election was won by left-wing independent Catherine Connolly in a landslide victory, with 63% of the first-preference votes. Her center-right rival Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael took only 29%. The result is seen as a significant win for Ireland's left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, which backed Connolly throughout the campaign.
Connolly, a 68-year-old former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, campaigned on a platform that emphasizes diversity, peace, and neutrality. She stated that she would be an "inclusive president for all of us" and that her main goal is to build on Ireland's policy of neutrality.
Humphreys conceded defeat earlier in the day after voting had finished. Despite losing the election, Humphreys expressed her support for Connolly, saying that she will be a president "for all of us." The leader of Ireland's Labour Party, Ivana Bacik, said that Connolly's victory has united left-leaning parties with an alternative vision.
Connolly faces a relatively straightforward process as presidential elections in Ireland are largely ceremonial. However, she will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who served two seven-year terms and announced his intention to step down earlier this year. She will be the country's 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
The election result comes after several prominent figures, including musician Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, expressed interest in running for president but failed to secure sufficient backing. The final result was delayed due to the manual counting of voting slips by hand across 43 electoral constituencies nationwide.
Connolly, a 68-year-old former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, campaigned on a platform that emphasizes diversity, peace, and neutrality. She stated that she would be an "inclusive president for all of us" and that her main goal is to build on Ireland's policy of neutrality.
Humphreys conceded defeat earlier in the day after voting had finished. Despite losing the election, Humphreys expressed her support for Connolly, saying that she will be a president "for all of us." The leader of Ireland's Labour Party, Ivana Bacik, said that Connolly's victory has united left-leaning parties with an alternative vision.
Connolly faces a relatively straightforward process as presidential elections in Ireland are largely ceremonial. However, she will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who served two seven-year terms and announced his intention to step down earlier this year. She will be the country's 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
The election result comes after several prominent figures, including musician Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, expressed interest in running for president but failed to secure sufficient backing. The final result was delayed due to the manual counting of voting slips by hand across 43 electoral constituencies nationwide.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR IRELAND AND THE LEFT-LEANED PARTIES. IT'S AMAZING TO SEE IVANA BACIK SAYING THAT CONNOLLY'S VICTORY HAS UNIFIED THEM ALL, GIVE ME ALL THE POSITIVITY!!! 
AND I FEEL SORRY FOR HEATHER HUMPHREYS, SHE SEEMS LIKE A NICE PERSON TOO BUT I SUPPOSE YOU CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL 
. ANYWAY, CONNOLLY IS GOING TO BE AWESOME AS PRESIDENT AND I'M SO HERE FOR IT!!! 
. And I'm loving that Heather Humphreys was so gracious about losing, really sets an example for politeness 
. Maybe this means Sinn Féin and other left-leaning parties will work together more often? That would be awesome 
.
like, i thought it was all just a fancy thing they do there... how does one even become president anyway? 
is it like, elected or something? and what's with the voting slips being counted by hand? lol what kinda technology are they using in 2025? 
and i gotta say, its super inspiring to see a woman in her 60s taking on this role, especially considering she's been doing this for like, years already! 
. i'm not surprised about Heather Humphreys conceding defeat though, the left has been gaining momentum in Ireland lately 
and this is just another step forward for change 
. Ivana Bacik's comment about Connolly bringing left-leaning parties together is totally true - we need more unity like this! 
can't wait to see what she does as president 
Is their president like a leader or something? It seems pretty straightforward, but I'm not really sure how it works... Can anyone explain it to me? 
This is a huge win for left-leaning parties like Sinn Féin and it shows that people are really looking for change in Ireland! #LeftWin #IrelandVotes #ConnollyForPresident
. Catherine Connolly's emphasis on diversity, peace, and inclusion is really resonating with voters, and its awesome to see left-leaning parties coming together behind her 
The whole election process was pretty unusual too, especially with manual counting of voting slips by hand 
. Like, it's clear that Ireland is moving leftwards and I think that's a positive change? We need more diversity in politics and Connolly's all about promoting peace, neutrality, and inclusivity 
. Anyway, Congrats to Catherine Connolly! She's gonna be an awesome president 
and btw what does "inclusive president for all of us" even mean 
? or is that just a slogan 
.
...I mean, who wouldn't want a 68-year-old lawyer to be their leader? It's not like they've been out of office for years or anything 
. At least she won in a landslide, so that's definitely not a sign of apathy or a lack of enthusiasm from the people 
. And great, another president who will build on Ireland's policy of neutrality...because nothing says "strong leader" like being neutral 
. Can't wait to see how that plays out in practice 
. It's interesting to see how Sinn Féin got behind her campaign too - I wonder if that'll lead to more cooperation between left-wing parties in the future? 
And what a relief it is that Conor McGregor didn't throw his hat into the ring - can you imagine him trying to navigate the complexities of presidential politics? 
and dont even get me started on heather humphreys being so gracious about it 
. And I love that she's all about diversity, peace, and neutrality - it's like she's the ultimate peacemaker 
.
The fact that she won in a landslide is like, a huge validation of the left-leaning parties in Ireland. I'm also loving how her rival Heather Humphreys was super supportive and gracious in defeat 
. This win is definitely a step in the right direction for Ireland and for our world at large 
!
and yet, she still managed to win in a landslide