Catherine Connolly elected as president of Ireland

Catherine Connolly has been elected as the president of Ireland after a landslide victory.

She has become the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland after defeating Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who had already conceded to her rival.

The result, long clear from early tallies, was officially declared at Dublin Castle.

Connolly – an independent who was backed by the major left-wing parties – pledged to be “an inclusive president for all” in her acceptance speech.

The 68-year-old, from Galway, has been a TD (member of the Irish parliament) since 2016.

She will be the country’s 10th president, taking over from Michael D Higgins who has served the maximum two terms in office

Connolly secured 914,143 first preference votes (63%), the largest amount in Irish presidential election history.

She made her acceptance speech first in Irish and then in English.

“I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary,” she said.

“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.”

Dublin correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite said Connolly was the anti-establishment candidate who took on Humphreys, the government’s pick.

She said in recent weeks, Connolly had been insisting her campaign was a “movement” and she has now won a clear mandate from the people.

Humphreys, who spoke after Connolly, thanked everyone who voted for her, her campaign team and Fine Gael for the nomination.

“I know Catherine will be a president for all of us. Catherine will be my president and I want to wish her well, this is her evening,” she said.

The president of Ireland is the country’s head of state. They represent the country abroad, take centre stage at major national events, and are responsible for ensuring that the constitution – the set of rules for government and politics – is followed.

While the president’s powers are limited, the office-holder’s influence can be profound.

Connolly will be inaugurated on 11 November with Higgins leaving office the day before.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said an “outstanding honour” had been bestowed upon Connolly.

“The people have spoken resoundingly and given Catherine a tremendous majority and a very clear mandate,” he said.

Tánaiste (Ireland’s deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said: “The great thing about this country is that we live in enduring democracy.

“We have an election, we go at it hammer and tongs and then we come together proudly behind the winner of the election.”

Earlier he acknowledged the high level of spoiled votes, saying he saw “people going to quite a lot of effort to spoil their ballot”.

Sinn Féin, the main opposition party in the Irish parliament, gave its support to Connolly after deciding not to run its own candidate.

The party’s president Mary Lou McDonald described the result as a “stunning victory” and said Connolly needed the support of her party in the presidential election campaign.

Speaking at Dublin Castle on Saturday, Ms McDonald said: “It is a victory for the combined opposition over the jaded worn-out politics of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“Sinn Féin as the largest political party, of course it was a significant element of the campaign.

“And Catherine has asserted quite correctly that she is an independent candidate, a woman with a very independent mind.”

Connolly sought out to establish herself as a united Ireland candidate and said she would like to see a border poll on the island of Ireland during her presidency, which runs for seven years.

In Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the win marked “an era of hope”.

“This election has shown what can be achieved when parties committed to change and progress work together in common purpose,” she said.

“That is the clear pathway to a better, united future.”