In a decisive and, some say, transformative moment for Ireland, Catherine Connolly, a left-leaning independent, has swept to victory in the country’s presidential election, securing 63% of first-preference votes and leaving her nearest rival, Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael, trailing far behind with just 29%. Official results were declared on Saturday evening, October 25, 2025, at Dublin Castle, after all 43 constituencies completed their counts. The win, widely described as a landslide, marks a significant shift in Irish politics—at least symbolically—and signals the arrival of a president who has pledged to champion diversity, peace, and Ireland’s longstanding policy of neutrality.
Connolly, 68, addressed an enthusiastic crowd at Dublin Castle, promising to be “an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honor.” She added, “I will be a president who listens, who reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary. Together we can shape a new republic that values everybody.” According to Reuters, her words resonated with many, especially young voters, who had rallied behind her campaign’s strong pro-Palestine stance and commitment to social justice.
Her rival, Humphreys, conceded defeat before the official result was even announced, acknowledging Connolly’s broad appeal. “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 said, as reported by BBC. The civility of the handover underscored the largely ceremonial nature of the Irish presidency, but the significance of Connolly’s victory was lost on no one.
Connolly’s rise to the presidency is the latest chapter in a life marked by resilience and a deep commitment to public service. The ninth of fourteen children, she grew up in a Galway social housing estate, shaped profoundly by the early death of her mother when she was just nine. “I come from a background that put a very high value on integrity and honesty,” Connolly told the BBC last month. Her father, a plasterer, worked tirelessly to provide for the family, and her older sisters stepped in to raise the younger siblings. Connolly credits these formative experiences with instilling in her a lifelong dedication to listening to different voices and standing up for those on the margins.
Her early adulthood was spent volunteering with Catholic lay organizations, delivering meals-on-wheels to the elderly and cleaning their homes. “The joke was that I was out saving the world and not doing the housework at home,” she told podcaster Síle Seoige. After studying psychology and German, Connolly qualified as a barrister in 1991 and soon after married her longtime partner, Brian McEnery. But it was her foray into politics, initially inspired by outgoing president Michael D. Higgins and his wife, that would define her public career.
Connolly entered local politics in 1999, serving 17 years as a Galway city councillor and one term as mayor. After a dispute with the Labour Party, she left and was eventually elected as an independent to the Dáil (Irish Parliament) in 2016. In 2020, she made history as the first woman elected Deputy Speaker (Leas-Cheann Comhairle) of the Dáil, a victory that demonstrated her ability to unite opposition parties—a skill she would deploy again in her presidential bid.
Her campaign for the presidency brought together a coalition of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, and People Before Profit. According to AP, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said, “We have seen a real appetite for the change that Catherine represents… we can now realize the ambition that I talked about a year ago: The real prospect of a center-left-led government after the next general election.”
Connolly’s outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and her warnings against the European Union’s growing militarization following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine set her apart from her rivals. She has vowed to use her presidency as a “voice for peace” and to defend Ireland’s tradition of military neutrality. As she told BBC Talkback, during her campaign, “Gaza was top of the list of their concerns” among voters, even more so than Irish unity.
The election itself was not without controversy. Turnout was just 46% of the 3.6 million eligible voters—a figure that, while not unusual, was overshadowed by the nearly 214,000 invalid ballots cast, a tenfold increase from the last presidential vote in 2018. The electoral commission called for “deeper and further reflection” on voter dissatisfaction, and Deputy Premier Simon Harris remarked, “The number of people in Ireland now who are clearly feeling disaffected or disconnected with politics” is cause for concern. Officials are reportedly considering changes to the nomination process for future elections.
Jim Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate backed by Prime Minister Micheál Martin, had quit the race three weeks before the election due to a financial dispute, but his name remained on the ballot and he received 7% of first-preference votes. Other would-be candidates, including musician Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, failed to secure enough nominations to run.
Connolly’s campaign was not without its challenges. Humphreys criticized her for representing banks in repossession cases while decrying evictions, and for hiring a woman with a recent firearms conviction. Connolly also faced scrutiny over a 2018 trip to Syria, during which her group briefly encountered an armed supporter of Bashar al-Assad. She defended the trip as a fact-finding mission focused on refugees, emphasizing that her group had no control over who joined the tour.
Despite these attacks, Connolly’s approachable style and authenticity endeared her to many. She became a social media sensation during the campaign, with videos of her playing football and basketball with children in Dublin going viral on Instagram and TikTok. Her passion for the Irish language, sporting achievements, and commitment to social justice have helped her connect with a broad spectrum of voters.
Looking ahead, Connolly will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who has served two seven-year terms since 2011, becoming Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the office. Her presidency, while largely ceremonial, will see her representing Ireland on the global stage and hosting visiting heads of state. Prime Minister Micheál Martin congratulated Connolly on her “very comprehensive election victory,” noting that he looked forward to working with her as Ireland prepares to host the EU presidency in the latter half of 2026.
Connolly has hinted that her first official visit as president may be to Northern Ireland, reflecting her hope to see a united Ireland in her lifetime—though she insists, in line with the Constitution, that unity can only be achieved peacefully and with the consent of voters on both sides of the border.
As Ireland turns a new page, all eyes will be on President-elect Connolly to see how she embodies her promise to listen, reflect, and speak when necessary, championing a republic that, in her words, “values everybody.”
