Ireland’s newly elected President, Catherine Connolly, waves to supporters outside Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin after her historic victory, becoming the nation’s first independent woman to hold the office, October 28, 2025.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | October 2025
A New Era at the Áras
On 25 October 2025, Catherine Connolly was officially declared the President-Elect of the Republic of Ireland, succeeding Michael D. Higgins as the country’s 10th head of state. The announcement followed the formal vote count from the 24 October presidential election, which confirmed Connolly secured 63.36 % of first-preference votes — a record majority in the office’s history. President.ie+4Presidential Election+4RTE+4
Outgoing President Higgins issued a statement congratulating her and pledging the full support of his office for the transition. President.ie
Her inauguration is scheduled for 11 November 2025, at which point she will formally assume the presidency. Robert Schuman Foundation+1
Election By the Numbers
Here are the key figures from the official returning-officer site: Presidential Election+1
| Candidate | First-Preference Votes | Share of Valid Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Connolly (Independent) | 914,143 | 63.36 % |
| Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) | 424,987 | 29.46 % |
| Jim Gavin (Fianna Fáil) | 103,568 | 7.18 % |
Turnout stood at approximately 45.83 %, the lowest in a modern Irish presidential contest. The number of spoiled or invalid ballots was unusually high (≈12.9 % of votes cast). Robert Schuman Foundation+1
The margin of victory not only broke records but also underscored a marked shift in the Irish electorate’s mood: the dominant establishment parties found themselves decisively rejected in this symbolic race.
Her Background & Path to the Áras
Connolly’s journey is rooted in public service, advocacy and a distinct personal story:
- Born July 1957, in Galway; she grew up in social housing as one of 14 children. Connecticut Public+1
- Professional credentials: a clinical psychologist turned barrister, giving her both legal and community-care experience. AP News+1
- Political career: Elected to Galway City Council in 1999, served as Mayor of Galway in 2004-05, before being elected as independent TD for Galway West in 2016, re-elected in 2020. Wikipedia+1
- From July 2020 until November 2024 she served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deputy Speaker) of the Dáil. Wikipedia+1
- Her public campaign “Why I’m standing” frames the presidency as not purely ceremonial but as a “voice for those too often silenced”, a defender of dignity, and a bridge between grassroots and the state. Catherine Connolly for President
Vision & Priorities
Connolly’s stated objectives, drawn from her personal campaign material, highlight several core themes:
- Inclusivity & listening: She emphasises being “a President who listens… who travels to every county, not to perform but to hear.” Catherine Connolly for President+1
- Social justice and democracy: From her earlier career to her presidential bid she underlines that politics should be “rooted in service… a moral compass in a world increasingly driven by profit and spectacle.” Catherine Connolly for President
- Peace and neutrality: In post-election remarks she pledged to be “a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, and that recognises the threat posed by climate change.” Sky News
- Irish identity and language: She emphasises “diversity”, “our own identity”, and both the Irish and English languages in her vision for the role. Sky News
What This Win Means
While the presidency in Ireland is largely symbolic, the electoral outcome and Connolly’s mandate carry several consequential signals:
- A definitive rebuke of the two long-dominant parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, for several observers, who interpret the high spoiled-ballot count and low participation as evidence of broader disenchantment. Robert Schuman Foundation+1
- The election of a woman, independent and rooted in grassroots activism, underscores a shift in expectations of the presidency from purely ceremonial to socially engaged. She becomes the third woman to hold the office. Wikipedia+1
- Though she has remarked that she will respect the constitutional limits of the office (no executive powers), her commitment to “speak when necessary” and to engage with international issues (e.g., neutrality, climate, human rights) suggests an activism-tinged tenure. Sky News+1
Looking Ahead: Transition & Challenges
Between the election result and her inauguration on 11 November, Connolly faces several immediate tasks:
- Consolidating her communications and team to reflect her declared values of inclusivity and engagement.
- Carefully managing her foreign-policy pronouncements: her past comments on issues like Palestine and EU defence policy have ignited debate. The Forward+1
- Reaching out beyond her base — especially to voters who did not choose her and to the significant number who spoiled their ballots — to build her claim to being “President of all”.
- Navigating the presidency’s symbolic duties: representing Ireland domestically and abroad, chairing key constitutional bodies, and engaging with the nation during events and crises.
- Potentially setting the tone for the next seven years on issues such as climate change, housing, identity, Ireland’s place in Europe and neutrality.
Bottom Line
Catherine Connolly’s election as President of Ireland marks a milestone: a commanding mandate, a break with the party-dominated past, and an openly social-justice driven presidency ahead. While her constitutional powers are limited, the ambition and public mood behind her victory suggest this presidency may not be purely ceremonial. Whether she transforms symbolic office into meaningful moral leadership will unfold in the months to come.
Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland
