Catherine Connolly’s name rang out across the marble halls of Dublin Castle on the evening of October 25, 2025, as she was officially declared the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland. Her victory was nothing short of historic. With 914,143 first preference votes—an astonishing 63%—Connolly not only broke records but also set a new tone for Irish politics. According to BBC, this margin is the largest ever recorded in an Irish presidential election, and it marks Connolly as the third woman to hold the office, following in the trailblazing footsteps of Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.
Connolly, an independent TD (member of parliament) from Galway, swept past her main rival, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who managed 29% of first preference votes once spoiled ballots were set aside. Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, who had withdrawn from the race but remained on the ballot, trailed at 7%. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The turnout, at 46%, was modest, but the 213,738 spoiled ballots—nearly 13% of the total—sent a message that has politicians and pundits alike scratching their heads.
Outgoing President Michael D. Higgins, who completed his constitutionally limited second term, was quick to reach out. “I rang Connolly to congratulate her on what is a momentous day for her and her family,” Higgins said, as reported by BBC. He assured the president-elect that she would have the "full support" of his office as she prepared for her inauguration on November 11. Connolly will serve a seven-year term, stepping into a role that, while largely symbolic, carries significant cultural weight in Ireland.
What does it mean to be president in Ireland? The office is, on paper, a ceremonial one: the president is head of state, guardian of the Constitution, and commander-in-chief of the Irish Defence Forces. Yet, as Le Monde notes, the position has evolved over the decades. Mary Robinson, the first woman to reside at Áras an Uachtaráin in the 1990s, transformed the role by engaging actively in public debates and championing progressive causes. Robinson’s advocacy for contraception and same-sex marriage helped usher in an era of dramatic secularization and liberalization in a country long shaped by conservative Catholic values.
Connolly, at 68, comes to the presidency with her own vision of transformation. Backed by a coalition of major left-wing parties—Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Greens—she ran as a candidate for change. According to BBC, Connolly positioned herself as a unifying figure, advocating for a united Ireland and expressing her desire to see a border poll during her term. “This moment of real evidence of success and achievement and a win for politics beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael,” Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald told BBC NI’s Sunday Politics programme, reflecting on the election’s outcome. McDonald went further, stating, “I believe that Catherine’s presidency is the time where we will see the calling of the referendums. I have said for many, many reasons, the extent of change, political change, demographic change, all across Ireland.”
The significance of Connolly’s win extends beyond party politics. For the first time since 1973, the Irish presidential election was essentially a two-horse race. The process to even reach the ballot is rigorous: candidates must secure the endorsement of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) or be nominated by four out of Ireland’s 31 local authorities. Despite this, the relatively limited choice on the ballot left a substantial portion of voters dissatisfied. BBC’s Dublin correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite observed that the unprecedented number of spoiled votes was a “clear message to government” that the electorate wanted more options.
Tánaiste Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, echoed this sentiment, noting the “quite a lot of effort to spoil their ballot.” He called for government “soul searching” in the wake of the 46% turnout and the high number of spoiled ballots. The government, he suggested, would need to consider reforms to ensure future elections better reflect the will of the people.
Connolly’s campaign was marked by its focus on inclusivity and national unity. Her advocacy for a border poll—essentially a referendum on Irish unification—struck a chord with many voters, especially among those who feel that the old political order no longer serves the country’s needs. Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald expressed confidence that such a poll would take place during Connolly’s presidency, underscoring the shifting political landscape. “I think we need to work in common cause, in a collaborative way, to find means and mechanisms to repeat this moment of hope,” McDonald said, emphasizing the importance of preparing for referendums and embracing the sweeping changes underway in Irish society.
Connolly’s personal journey also resonates. Hailing from Galway in the west of Ireland, she has served as a TD since 2016, building a reputation for independence and principled advocacy. Her victory, as reported by Le Monde, caps a career defined by a willingness to challenge the status quo and seek common ground across the political spectrum.
Of course, the presidency remains a largely symbolic office, as Le Monde reminds readers. Ireland’s strict neutrality is a cornerstone of its foreign policy, and the president’s role as commander-in-chief of the Irish Defence Forces is more ceremonial than operational. Yet, the symbolic power of the presidency can be profound, especially in moments of national reflection or crisis. The example set by Mary Robinson in the 1990s—using the office as a platform for social progress—looms large, and many will be watching to see whether Connolly charts a similarly active course.
As Connolly prepares to move into Áras an Uachtaráin, she faces both high expectations and significant challenges. The record number of spoiled ballots is a stark reminder that not all voters felt represented by the choices on offer. The relatively low turnout suggests a degree of disengagement or disillusionment with the political process. Yet, Connolly’s landslide victory and the broad coalition that supported her point to a hunger for change and a willingness to imagine a new future for Ireland.
With her inauguration set for November 11, the stage is set for Catherine Connolly to begin her seven-year term as president. Whether she will redefine the office in the mold of Mary Robinson, or carve out her own unique path, remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Ireland has entered a new chapter, and all eyes will be on its new head of state as she seeks to unite and inspire a nation in flux.
