Ireland elects hard-left Eurosceptic as next President in resounding victory for independent candidate

The election was contested by both of Ireland's main parties - Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

However, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race earlier this month after it was revealed he owed a former tenant €3,300.

Ms Connolly won 914,143 first-preference votes, presidential returning officer Barry Ryan announced at Dublin Castle on Saturday night.

When spoilt votes were excluded, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys won 29% of first preference votes, while Fianna Fail’s Jim Gavin, who withdrew from campaigning, won 7% first preference votes.

The 213,738 spoiled votes represent a tenfold increase since the last presidential election in 2018.

Of the 3,612,957 people eligible to vote, 1,656,436 cast their vote in the 2025 presidential election, representing a turnout of 46%

Despite running as an independent, Ms Connolly received the support of Sinn Fein, Irish Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, the Irish Green Party, and Solidarity.

Turnout has been particularly low in this year's contest at just 40 per cent, with 13 per cent of ballots expected to be spoilt.

Ms Connolly faced pressure to address her previous pro-Brexit comments on the campaign trail.

The 68-year-old broke ranks with the Irish Labour Party by opposing the Nice Treaty in 2002.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys has already conceded to Ms Connolly ahead of the official declaration, with projections suggesting the 65-year-old will only receive 29 per cent of the vote.

"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. "I have absolutely not one regret."

However, Mrs Humphreys complained about the "awful sectarian abuse" her family had received on the campaign trail.

Mrs Humphreys, who is a Presbyterian, came under fire after it was revealed her husband, Eric, had been a member of the Orange Order. She added: "As a country, I thought we'd moved on. If we're ever to have a united Ireland we have to respect all traditions.".

President-elect Connolly has since rejected the suggestion that the European Union is a "peace project" and accused the Irish Government of taking an active role in the UK's 2016 Brexit referendum.

She said: “Despite the projection of fear and total manipulation of same to force a desired result, the electorate was not fooled.

“Brexit is not the problem, Brexit is the consequence of the problem which is the failure of a ruling elite and compliant governments, our own included, to realise the democratic deficit that is an integral part of the EU.”

Ms Connolly was also forced to answer tough questions about her stance on Ukraine, sparking fears she would not be strong enough to stand up to Vladimir Putin.

Separate criticism followed when Ms Connolly described Hamas terrorists as "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people".

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin criticised Ms Connolly and accused her of being "reluctant to unequivocally condemn October 7."

Despite major protests in Dublin following the alleged sexual assault of a child by an asylum seeker, Ms Connolly has been clear that she does not believe "Ireland is full".

The role of President of Ireland is largely ceremonial but still holds high national significance.