Overview
- Official results show Connolly on roughly 63% to Heather Humphreys’ 29.5%, with turnout near 46% and a record near 13% of ballots ruled invalid.
- Humphreys conceded and senior government figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris, offered congratulations as Connolly pledged an inclusive presidency.
- The independent left-wing MP, backed by Sinn Féin and the Greens, will serve a largely ceremonial seven-year term succeeding Michael Higgins and becomes Ireland’s third woman president.
- Connolly defends Ireland’s military neutrality, opposes higher defense spending, has been a prominent pro-Palestinian voice, and has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The two-candidate race followed the withdrawal of Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, who still drew about 7% of votes, while many invalid ballots carried protest messages such as anti-immigration slogans.