Dublin, Ireland – Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly has secured a decisive and historic victory in the 2025 Irish Presidential Election, defeating centre-right candidate Heather Humphreys. Early vote tallies indicated an insurmountable lead for Connolly, with reports suggesting she won around 64% of the vote.
Connolly’s triumph is being interpreted as a significant rebuke to the incumbent centre-right government over issues like the housing crisis and the cost of living. The 68-year-old former clinical psychologist and barrister galvanized younger voters through a highly effective social media campaign and garnered support from a rare alliance of left-wing opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour, and the Social Democrats.
Her platform focused on domestic social justice, a strong stance on equality, and the need to ringfence Irish military neutrality against what she terms “western militarism.” Connolly’s foreign policy critiques, including strong condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, resonated with a segment of the electorate.
Rival Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) conceded defeat on Saturday afternoon, wishing the President-elect well. The election also saw a historically high number of spoiled ballots, estimated around 13%, which analysts suggest reflects widespread frustration among voters with the limited mainstream choices available after other contenders dropped out or failed to qualify. Connolly is set to succeed President Michael D. Higgins for a seven-year term at Áras an Uachtaráin.
