Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 8 Oct
BOOKMAKER PADDY POWER has paid out early on bets backing Catherine Connolly to become the next President of Ireland.
The election takes place on 24 October but Paddy Power – never one to pass up a handy marketing opportunity – today claimed that it has “seen enough” to call it.
It said the decision to pay out early follows Jim Gavin’s exit from the race after he failed to clarify reports on an RTÉ debate that he allegedly did not repay a tenant €3,300 in rent mistakenly paid over a decade ago.
Paddy Power today said Gavin’s departure has made left-backed Independent candidate Connolly the “firm favourite” to win the two-horse race to the Áras ahead of Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
It’s not the first time Paddy Power has paid out early on a presidential election. In fact, it’s a strategy that backfired spectacularly during the US election in 2016.
Nine years ago, Paddy Power declared that a “woman’s place is in the House – the White House” and paid out early over $1 million dollars on a Hillary Clinton victory.
That bad call ultimately cost the bookmaker over £4 million – on top of the early payouts to those who backed Clinton, Paddy Power also had to settle bets with those who had backed Donald Trump.
🚨 EARLY PAYOUT 🚨
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) October 8, 2025
That's it, we've seen enough. We're paying out on Catherine Connolly to win the Irish Presidential election. And if she doesn't win, there's always the Ballon D'Or...
Applies to single bets only, no max payout. Winnings paid as cash. Online & Shop bets… pic.twitter.com/XyX8OUJ3fH
From today, the bookmaker will pay out all single bets that were placed before 9am this morning on Connolly to win the 2025 Presidential Election.
A Paddy Power spokesperson remarked that the presidential election “got a bit messy this week, but the public now knows Catherine Connolly is able to keep the balls in the air under pressure”.
This was in reference to a video which has clocked up a lot of views online showing Connolly performing keepy uppies with school children at Courtney Place Flats on the Ballybough Road in Dublin.
Paddy Power said Connolly is now the “odds-on favourite to win this race”.
“And if she doesn’t win, there’s always the Ballon D’Or,” added the bookmaker.
Despite calling the race early, Paddy Power will keep its ‘Next President After Michael D Higgins’ market open right up to polling day.
Emmm do Paddy Power know something we don’t ?? Went to check my cash out and it’s been settled and I’ve gotten the full €40 on my €5 Bet??? https://t.co/AdfhoQ8HHu pic.twitter.com/KiVIIro4XS
— Grace Rattigan (Reck) (@frillyflossy) October 8, 2025
The Journal asked Paddy Power how much it will actually have to pay out early on Connolly bets – and why it’s keeping betting open if it’s calling it.
A spokesperson said Paddy Power won’t comment on how much it will have to pay out.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson added that although Paddy Power sees it as a foregone conclusion, “it’s a game of opinions and we are happy to keep the market open to continue betting and be proved wrong”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say