Independent candidate Catherine Connolly casts her vote within the election for the subsequent Irish president at Claddagh National School in Galway metropolis, Ireland, on October 24, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP
Early tallies of votes after counting started at 0800 GMT confirmed a large lead for Ms. Connolly, 68, an unbiased candidate. She is a long-time critic of the European Union in overwhelmingly pro-EU Ireland and was removed from a family identify on the outset.
“It does seem doubtless that Catherine Connolly will likely be elected and we now transfer on to the job of working along with her as a authorities,” Higher Education Minister James Lawless, a member of the Fianna Fail social gathering, instructed nationwide broadcaster RTE.
Ireland’s president is basically a figurehead, with seldom-used powers to check the constitutionality of laws. Education Minister Helen McEntee additionally stated that it regarded as if Ms. Connolly would win. Her centre-right Fine Gael social gathering’s choose Heather Humphreys was the one different candidate left campaigning. Fianna Fail’s candidate deserted his bid simply days into the marketing campaign.
Labour Party chief Ivana Bacik, a part of your entire left-wing opposition bloc that backed Ms. Connolly, stated it was “virtually sure” that Ms. Connolly could be the tenth President of Ireland.
Ms. Connolly, a former medical psychologist and barrister, was first elected to parliament in 2016 the place she has served as a deputy speaker of Ireland’s Lower House.
In temporary remarks to RTE at her native County Galway depend centre, Ms. Connolly thanked those that voted for her and stated she would do her utmost to symbolize those that didn’t.
A last consequence will doubtless be declared afterward Saturday (October 25).
Published – October 25, 2025 05:25 pm IST
