Ireland has elected a new head of state — independent left-wing MP Catherine Connolly — marking a historic political shift in the country.
Connolly won Friday’s presidential election with an overwhelming 63.4% of the vote, according to official results announced Saturday night. Her centrist rival, Heather Humphreys, received only 29.5%, paving the way for Connolly to succeed outgoing President Michael D. Higgins, who has served since 2011.
In her victory speech, the 68-year-old politician pledged to be “a president who listens, who responds, and who speaks when necessary,” adding: “Together, we can build a new democracy that values every person.”
Although largely a ceremonial role, the Irish presidency carries moral and symbolic weight. The president represents the country abroad and frequently engages in public debate on social and humanitarian issues.
Connolly received congratulations from her opponent Humphreys, who told RTE that “Catherine will be a president for all of us.” Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also congratulated her, wishing her “every success.”
According to Sky News, Connolly’s victory closes the 14-year presidency of Michael D. Higgins, who served two highly popular terms.
Known for her social advocacy and progressive values, Connolly was supported by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, and the Labour Party. Though running as an independent, she managed to unify Ireland’s broader left-wing electorate, presenting herself as “a voice for peace, unity, and social justice.”
Her political career spans decades. Connolly served 17 years as a Labour Party councillor and was mayor of Galway until 2005. She left the Labour Party in 2007, ran unsuccessfully for Parliament in 2011, but was later elected as an independent MP in 2016. In 2020, she made history again as the first woman to serve as deputy speaker of the Irish lower house.
Connolly has also been one of the most outspoken pro-Palestinian voices in Irish politics. She has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and criticized Western governments for their stance on the conflict. While Ireland’s government broadly supports the establishment of a Palestinian state, Connolly’s rhetoric has often gone further — with critics accusing her of failing to fully condemn the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
“I condemn what happened on October 7,” she said in a previous statement, “but history did not begin that day. We must also remember the many atrocities committed by the Israeli government and military.”
She later clarified that the attacks were “absolutely wrong,” but added that they were “not comparable” to what she described as “a genocide in Gaza.”
