LAST UPDATE | 25 Oct 2025

CATHERINE CONNOLLY HAS officially been elected as President of Ireland, promising to “shape a new republic that values everybody”.

President-elect Connolly will be inaugurated as the country’s 10th president next month after she won yesterday’s election by a huge margin.

Speaking after her victory, Connolly urged people to “use your voice in every way you can” and promised to be a president for those who voted for her and those who didn’t. 

The victory for the Galway Independent was clear as soon as ballot boxes were open this morning, such was the margin of her win. 

After the first count was completed, Connolly won in every constituency in the country except Cavan-Monaghan, home to her opponent Heather Humphreys. 

Connolly exceeded the record number of first preference votes secured by her predecessor President Michael D Higgins in 2018 when there were still three constituencies left to declare today.  

Overall, Connolly received 914,143 first-preference votes to Humphreys’ 424,987 votes and 103,568 votes for Jim Gavin. 

There were also 213,738 spoiled ballots, a clear record amid widespread dissatisfaction with the small number of candidates on the ballot. 

Connolly is currently a TD for Galway-West and her candidacy was supported by a coalition of left-leaning parties in the Dáil. 

Sinn Féin, Labour, The Social Democrats and People Before Profit all supported Connolly’s candidacy and these parties will now be seeking to build on Connolly’s victory.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has congratulated Connolly in Dublin Castle this evening. 

Connolly speaking at Dublin Castle this evening. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Speaking after her victory, Connolly said she would be “an inclusive president”.  

“From day one, I emphasised that I was an independent candidate with an independent mind. For all who voted for me, thank you very much. It will be an absolute privilege to serve you,” she said.

For those who didn’t vote for me and those who spoiled their votes, let me tell you, I will be an inclusive president to listen to all of you. I will be making no distinction on the basis of votes.   

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She added: “I will be a president who listens and who reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary, and a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change.”

“My message is, use your voice in every way you can, because a republic and a democracy need constructive questioning. Together we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and the new people who have come to our country, I will be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honour.”

Speaking after Connolly, defeated candidate Humphreys said: “I know that Catherine will be a president for all of us. Can I say Catherine will be my president, and I really want to wish her well. This is her evening.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Connolly, saying that it was “an outstanding honour that has been bestowed upon her by the people of Ireland.”

“The people are sovereign in our democracy, we have one of the oldest democracies in the world, and it’s something we cherish very much indeed,” the Taoiseach said.