Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has been declared Ireland’s next president, securing a stunning landslide victory that delivered a potent rebuke to the ruling center-right establishment.
The outcome, with Connolly capturing 63% of the first preference votes, is set to inject a new layer of friction into Ireland’s domestic politics and its relationship with key international allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
The 68-year-old former barrister and long-time member of parliament from Galway won 914,143 of the 1,442,698 valid votes cast. Her nearest rival, Heather Humphreys of the governing Fine Gael party, received 424,987 votes, or 29%, in the two-horse contest. The victory makes Connolly the republic’s 10th head of state.
Mandate for Neutrality and International Scrutiny
Speaking at Dublin Castle after the results were formally declared, President-elect Connolly pledged to champion national sovereignty and articulated a foreign policy vision centered on Ireland’s long-standing military neutrality.
“I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change,” Connolly said, before promising to be “a president for all.”
A vocal critic of the West’s involvement in global conflicts, Connolly campaigned on a platform that seeks to “ringfence Irish neutrality from what she calls western ‘militarism’.” She has previously accused both the UK and U.S. of enabling genocide in Gaza and has accused NATO of “warmongering.”
The presidency is a largely ceremonial office, yet past incumbents, including Michael D. Higgins, have transformed it into a visible platform for promoting ethical foreign policy and reconciliation. Analysts anticipate that Connolly’s outspoken views—including a commitment to make Northern Ireland the site of her first official visit—will inevitably lead to friction with the government, which holds executive power.
Rebuke to the Political Establishment
Connolly’s triumph is widely interpreted as a protest vote against the incumbent center-right coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The campaign successfully channeled deep-seated public anger over two critical domestic issues: a protracted housing crisis and the soaring cost of living.
The victory was engineered through a rare unity among left-wing opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit, who threw their collective resources behind the independent candidate. Connolly’s deft use of social media, including viral videos showcasing her football skills, helped her capture the imagination of younger voters and build what she insisted was a “movement.”
Despite the landslide win, the election was marred by a low turnout of just 46%, well below Irish standards. The count also recorded an unprecedented number of spoiled or invalid ballots, totaling 213,738, reflecting widespread frustration over the limited choice of candidates.
A New Voice in the Áras
Connolly, a former clinical psychologist and barrister, enters Áras an Uachtaráin, the presidential residence, succeeding Michael D. Higgins, who served the maximum two seven-year terms.
In her acceptance speech, the President-elect emphasized her commitment to transparency and inclusivity. “Our public and democracy needs constructive questioning,” she asserted. Pledging to advocate for those without a voice, she concluded, “Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity.”
Current President Higgins congratulated Connolly, stating, “The president-elect will have the full support of this office as she prepares for her inauguration next month.” Fine Gael’s Humphreys also conceded gracefully, remarking, “I know Catherine will be a president for all of us. Catherine will be my president and I want to wish her well, this is her evening.”
Connolly will be inaugurated on November 11.
Who is Catherine Connolly?
Catherine Connolly’s political focus is deeply rooted in her origins as one of fourteen children raised in a social housing estate in Galway, a background which instilled a profound commitment to community welfare. Her career path includes diverse experience as a practicing barrister and a clinical psychologist, combining legal advocacy with social care. Her early political service included being elected to the Galway City Council in 1999 and serving as Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005.
Ideologically defined as a socialist and pacifist, Ms. Connolly campaigned primarily to tackle the country’s housing crisis, which she calls the “defining social crisis of our time.” Her foreign policy is notably uncompromising and independent, involving a strong commitment to Irish neutrality and a vocal critique of what she terms “western militarism” and the European Union’s push toward increased military spending. On the campaign trail, her high-profile advocacy for Palestine was one of the top concerns cited by voters.
The victory, which secured the highest number of first-preference votes ever recorded by a presidential candidate, was widely interpreted as a potent rebuke to the ruling center-right establishment. As a symbolic gesture, Ms. Connolly has pledged to make Northern Ireland the site of her first official presidential visit to emphasize her desire for a peaceful, consented-to united Ireland. She has also indicated a willingness to scrutinize the presidential salary and consider using it “for the common good.”