Catherine Connolly has been elected as the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland, securing a landslide victory in a historic election. An independent candidate with strong backing from major left-wing parties, the 68-year-old from Galway defeated Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys, who conceded early, and Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin, who withdrew from campaigning but remained on the ballot. The official declaration of her win took place at Dublin Castle on Saturday evening, following early tallies that clearly indicated her success.

Connolly garnered an impressive 914,143 first preference votes, representing 63% of valid votes once spoilt ballots were excluded. This marks the largest amount of first preference votes ever recorded in an Irish presidential election. Her closest rival, Heather Humphreys, received 424,987 votes (29% of valid first preference votes), while Jim Gavin secured 103,568 votes (7%). The overall turnout for the election was 46%, with 1,656,436 votes cast out of 3,612,957 eligible voters.

A notable aspect of the election was the unprecedented number of spoiled votes, totaling 213,738, a tenfold increase since the 2018 presidential election. This surge was partly attributed to a 'Spoil The Vote' campaign, which protested the absence of centrist or centre-right candidates on the ballot. Messages such as 'no democracy,' 'EU puppets,' 'Maria Steen,' and references to an alleged sexual assault were found on some of these ballots, indicating widespread dissatisfaction and a desire for protest.

In her acceptance speech, delivered first in Irish and then in English, Ms. Connolly pledged to be "an inclusive president for all." She articulated her vision, stating, "I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary. I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country." She further emphasized her commitment to shaping "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 new people who have come to our country."

Prior to her presidency, Ms. Connolly had a distinguished career as a TD (member of the Irish parliament) for Galway West since 2016. She previously worked as a clinical psychologist and barrister and was a member of Irish Labour for 17 years. Her victory was met with congratulations from political figures across Ireland, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who hailed her win as a "seismic moment in our history" and a "stunning victory for optimism and hope."

However, Connolly's political career has also been marked by controversy due to her outspoken views on several international and national issues. She has been a fierce critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, accusing the state of behaving like a 'terrorist state' and committing 'genocide,' while acknowledging Hamas's election and role in Palestinian civil society. She has stated that "both sides have committed war crimes" and criticized external interference in how Palestinians decide their leadership. Her stance has garnered support from groups like the Irish-language rap duo Kneecap and has seen her participate in Palestine protests.

Domestically, Ms. Connolly is a strong advocate for a united Ireland, calling for a 'border poll' on Northern Ireland's separation from the Republic, aligning with the Good Friday Agreement. She has also been a critic of the European Union, frequently opposing referendums aimed at greater integration, and has expressed skepticism towards NATO, even drawing parallels between Germany's increased defense spending and Nazi militarization. In 2018, she faced scrutiny for a trip to Syria alongside other Irish parliamentarians, during which she was pictured with militia leader Saed Abdel Al-Aal, who has been linked to war crimes. Connolly maintained it was a "fact-finding mission" and that she had no control over who approached the group.

The President of Ireland serves as the country's head of state, representing the nation abroad and presiding over major national events. While the office holds limited direct powers, the incumbent's influence can be profound, ensuring adherence to the constitution and considering the referral of legislation to the Supreme Court if necessary. Ms. Connolly takes over from Michael D Higgins, who completed his maximum two terms, and is expected to continue the trend of a more politically engaged presidency, following Mr. Higgins's own outspoken comments on issues such as Ireland's housing crisis and the credibility of the UN.