Catherine Connolly, a pro-Palestine, left-wing candidate, secures 63 percent of the vote to defeat centre-right rival.Published On 25 Oct 202525 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareLeft-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election, securing 63 percent of the vote to defeat her centre-right rival.Connolly, 68, was officially declared the winner of Friday’s vote after all 43 constituencies finished counting ballots on Saturday evening, hours after Heather Humphreys of the Fine Gael party conceded defeat.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list“Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” Humphreys, who won 29.5 percent of the vote, had said earlier in the day.Polls had suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly over Humphreys, 64.Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was also quick to wish Connolly “every success”, adding, “She will be President for all this country.”“Her success will be Ireland’s success,” he posted on X. Vote counting at the RDS count centre in Dublin, Ireland, on October 25, 2025 [AFP]Connolly, a former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over its war in Gaza and has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Fein, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.Her campaign was especially popular among young people, who approved of her strong pro-Palestine stance and her commitment to social justice, among other issues.Connolly and Humphreys were the only contenders after Jim Gavin, the candidate for Prime Minister Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail party, quit the race three weeks before the election over a long-ago financial dispute. Martin had backed Gavin in the race. Advertisement While Irish presidents represent the country on the world stage, host visiting heads of state and play an important constitutional role, they do not have the power to shape laws or policies.Connolly will succeed Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the maximum two seven-year terms.She will be Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to h …
