As it happened: Catherine Connolly wins election and will become 10th president of Ireland

Catherine Connolly has been elected as Ireland’s 10th President. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

At a glance

• Catherine Connolly has been elected as Ireland’s 10th President;
• Heather Humphreys conceded before 2pm, saying she has "no regrets" about running.
• Who is Ireland's new president, Catherine Connolly? Read acting political editor Paul Hosford's profile here.
• Ms Connolly was elected with 63% first-preference votes;
• 213,738 spoiled votes counted, marking a tenfold increase since the last presidential election in 2018;
• Of the 3,612,957 people eligible to vote, 1,656,436 cast their vote, representing a turnout of 46%.

FULL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2025 RESULTS HUB HERE

 

8.25pm:

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected assertions that he opted to travel to Dublin Castle after facing pressure from Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

Earlier on Saturday, spokespeople for Mr Martin said he would not attend the election count centre.

However, he later confirmed he would travel from Cork for Ms Connolly’s confirmation.

Pressed about his plans, Mr Martin insisted that he had initially sought to make an appearance on RTÉ’s Six One in Cork, before travelling to Dublin Castle.

“First of all, I thought the count was later and I was asked to do the news and I thought I’d do it from Cork, but obviously the count was coming quicker. That’s all,” Mr Martin said.

Asked why his spokespeople had said he would not be in attendance, Mr Martin said: “Fair enough, but I’m here. I came and there was nobody who rang me about it.” 

Mr Martin said it was “possibly” an issue of communication. Pressed further if he was throwing his communications staff under the bus, he rejected the assertion.

“I’ll take responsibility, I’m not throwing anybody under the bus here.”

8.05pm: President Michael D Higgins has congratulated the woman who will succeed him, Catherine Connolly. 

In a statement, President Higgins said: “I have this evening spoken by telephone with the President-elect, Catherine Connolly. I congratulated the President-elect on her election as the 10th President of Ireland on what is a momentous day for her and her family. 

"The President-elect will have the full support of this office as she prepares for her Inauguration next month.”

7.35pm: President-elect Catherine Connolly has pledged to be “an inclusive president for all”.

Ms Connolly thanked her supporters and voters, while also telling those who did not vote for her that she would be their voice.

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

Speaking after being declared the winner of the election at Dublin Castle, Ms Connolly added: “Our whole mantra during this campaign was that we can shape a new republic together, and we can use our voices for those who haven’t the ability, or for whom the circumstances don’t allow it.

“But my message is, use your voice in every way you can, because our public and democracy needs constructive questioning and, together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and new people who have come to our country.

“I would be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honour.” She emphasised she was an independent candidate but expressed gratitude to the parties that had supported her campaign.

Ms Connolly also paid tribute to her opponent, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.

7.21pm: It's official. Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has been declared the winner in the presidential election and will become the 10th President of Ireland.

Her opponent, Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys, had earlier conceded the election, congratulating Ms Connolly. Ms Humphreys said Ms Connolly "will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best".

Ms Connolly won in a landslide. She was elected on the first count, winning 63% first-preference votes once spoilt votes were excluded. However, one of the major talking points from the election will be the number of invalid ballot papers, with more than 213,000 people spoiling their vote.

Ms Connolly secured 914,143 votes, more than double Ms Humpreys' 424,987. Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the campaign at the start of the month but remained on the ballot, won 103,568 votes.

Of the 3,612,957 people eligible to vote, 1,656,436 cast their vote in the 2025 presidential election, representing a turnout of 46%.

6.15pm: Catherine Connolly has arrived at Dublin Castle ahead of an announcement expected to confirm a landslide victory for her in the presidential election.

She arrived with her family and campaign team, and was greeted by the left-wing opposition parties that had backed her campaign.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys has also arrived at Dublin Castle. Ms Humphreys conceded she had lost earlier in the day.

5.40pm: Heather Humphreys has won her home constituency, taking 58.75% of first preference votes. Catherine Connolly took 38.33%, and there were 10,802 votes separating the two candidates.

Ms Humphreys served as a TD for the constituency from 2011 until 2024. 

4.55pm: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described Catherine Connolly’s expected victory in the presidential election as “stunning”.

Speaking at Dublin Castle, Ms McDonald said: “Today is a stunning victory for optimism and hope over cynicism and negativity.

“It is a victory for the combined opposition over the jaded worn-out politics of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“I said some time ago, I spoke of a game-changer.

“I think the game changed and it is now going to be our job in active frontline politics to build on the momentum, the hope, the energy that this campaign has generated.”

The Sinn Féin leader said there is now a “potential” for a political alternative, away from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“I know that is something that we need to work on,” Ms McDonald said.

Asked if she believed a formal left-wing pact could be agreed ahead of the next general election, Ms McDonald said each party is their own, but there are obvious areas of cooperation and cited the issue of housing.

“I have absolutely no doubt that there is plenty of space and need for continued conversation, for dialogue and for finding common cause,” Ms McDonald said.

“We need to work together, what precise form that will take, I think we need to reflect on that.” Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin arrived “right on time” with its endorsement, saying their timing was “impeccable”.

Asked about Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s decision not to appear at Dublin Castle, Ms McDonald said it was her personal view that you make an appearance for the declaration.

Mr Martin has since confirmed that he will be in attendance at the count centre.

4.30pm: The Taoiseach has congratulated Catherine Connolly "on what will be a very comprehensive election victory". 

Micheál Martin said it is clear she will be the next president, saying Ms Connolly "ran a successful and impactful campaign".

"She has secured a clear mandate to represent the people of Ireland as Uachtarán na hÉireann over the next seven years. The people have made their choice, and I have no doubt Catherine Connolly will serve the country well," Mr Martin said. 

"As Taoiseach, I look forward to working with the new President in the time ahead as Ireland continues to play a significant role on the global stage, and as we look forward to hosting the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026."

It comes as Mr Martin is facing considerable anger within his party over Fianna Fáil's election performance. One Fianna Fáil member said this was the “most embarrassing election for Fianna Fáil since 2011”.

4pm: We're more than half way through the first round of counting, with 23 of the 43 constituencies through a first count. Catherine Connolly has a commanding lead, with 63.57% of first preference votes. 

Heather Humphreys has 28.9% of 1st preference votes while Jim Gavin has 7.52%.

The number of spoiled votes has been a feature of the counting today, and so far, there has been 117,119 invalid ballot papers.

3pm: The first counts have been completed and results are starting to roll in. 

Cork South Central was the first to finish with Catherine Connolly receiving 27,750 first preference votes (64%), compared to Heather Humphreys' 12,111 first preference votes (28%). Jim Gavin came in a distant third, on 3,044 first preference votes (7%). There were a total of 4,935 spoiled votes in the constituency.

Cork East has also completed its count, with Ms Connolly receiving 65% of the vote (20,123 votes), compared to Ms Humphreys 28% (8,717 votes). There were 4,672 spoiled votes.

Elsewhere, counts have been completed in Dublin West, Dublin South-West and Dun Laoghaire.

In Dublin West, Ms Connolly received 18,528 first preferences, compared to 7,756 first preferences for Ms Humphreys. There were 4,438 spoiled votes.

In Dublin South-West, Ms Connolly got 28,079 first preferences, compared to Ms Humphreys 12,375 first preferences. There were a total of 7,537 spoiled ballots.

In Dun Laoghaire, the result was closer between Ms Connolly and Ms Humphreys. Ms Connolly received 21,138 first preferences, compared to 16,358 first preferences for Ms Humphreys. There were 3,468 spoiled ballots.

Louth is the fifth constituency to finish its count, with 68% of the vote going to Ms Connolly (28,006 votes), while 26% went to Ms Humphreys (10,711 votes). There were 7,782 votes spoiled.

2.30pm: Tánaiste Simon Harris has “sincerely” congratulated Catherine Connolly on “becoming our next president of Ireland”.

Simon Harris, who leads the Fine Gael party that nominated her rival Heather Humphreys, said in a statement that Ms Connolly will be a president “for all this country and for all of us”.

He added: “I wish her every success. Her success will be Ireland’s success.

“Thank you so much to Heather for all her effort. Proud of her.”

Mr Harris said he has “no regrets” about the selection of Heather Humphreys as Fine Gael’s presidential candidate.

He said after tallies indicated independent candidate Catherine Connolly would win over his party’s candidate.

Mr Harris claimed Ms Humphreys “held” the Fine Gael vote, adding “it looks like she’ll get close to 30%”.

“That’s way more than Fine Gael is polling and way more than Fine Gael got in a general election.”

2pm: Heather Humphreys has conceded the presidential election and congratulated Catherine Connolly on her victory.

Speaking in Cavan, Ms Humphreys congratulated Ms Connolly on “becoming the next President of Ireland.”

Ms Humphreys said she has “no regrets” about running for the presidency but admitted her family “suffered” during the campaign.

“I have absolutely not one regret,” she said said.

Ms Humphrey's added that she will now return to her family and her seven-week-old grandson, whom she said she “hasn’t seen enough of.” 

“Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” she added.

1.45pm: The Coast Guard was deployed to help the people of an island near the coast of Mayo to vote yesterday.

Mayo County Council requested help to get a ballot box to Inishbiggle, which sits near Achill Island.

Coast Guard members brought a Garda and the box to the island by boat yesterday morning, and collected them later in the day.

The Coast Guard says this enabled the safe carriage of the votes and made sure the integrity of the electoral process was maintained.

The Achill Coast Guard boat transported a member of An Garda Síochána to the island, enabling the safe carriage of the election box and supporting residents in exercising their right to vote.

1.30pm: A national tally within the Connolly campaign suggests once the spoiled votes are excluded, Catherine Connolly will have 64% of the vote.

The mood among Fine Gael members is one of resignation, with Heather Humphreys set to receive around 29% of the vote. They accept that Ms Connolly is going to win in a landslide.

1.15pm: People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has called for a united conference of left-wing parties to be held next year to determine their next steps following Catherine Connolly’s apparent victory in the presidential election.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Murphy said he wanted private discussions with other left-wing parties to explore possible cooperation ahead of the next general election.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy watching the ballot papers being counted at the RDS in Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Mr Murphy said it was “unlikely” there would be a joint candidate for the Galway West by-election but added that he hoped parties could agree on a “vote left, transfer left” pact.

“I think that would be an important step forward and that would point towards what’s possible at the next general election,” Mr Murphy said.

“Effectively I think what we need to be posing is that there’s a clear choice in the next election. You can vote for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, those who are willing to prop them up, or here’s an alternative, a left Government. The potential for the first left Government in Ireland.” 

Mr Murphy said there was no need for any one party to claim credit for Ms Connolly’s victory, describing it instead as a win for the Independent TD’s broader movement.

12.15pm: Final tallies have been completed for some Dublin districts.

In Dublin Central, Catherine Connolly had 74.25% of the valid ballots, while Heather Humphreys had 19.62% and Jim Gavin was on 6.13%.

This is the result after 16.6% of the overall ballots were excluded for being spoiled, amid an estimated turnout of 37%.

A ballot box is emptied as counting begins at Adamstown count centre in Dublin. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA Wire

In Dublin North West, a full tally estimated 21.13% of ballots were spoiled from a turnout of 42%.

When they were excluded, Ms Connolly had 73.36%, Ms Humphreys had 18.78% and Mr Gavin had 7.87%.

In Dublin Bay South, when the approximately 8% of spoiled ballots are excluded, the breakdown was: Connolly 53.4% Humphreys 39.1% and Gavin 7.5%.

This tally came with the proviso that not all votes had yet been counted.

12.10pm: Counting staff in west Dublin have called the vote for left-wing Catherine Connolly a “landslide”, while also noting the sharp increase in the number of spoiled votes in the presidential election.

In Dublin Mid-West, final tallies indicated Ms Connolly secured 56% of the votes cast, on a turnout of 42%.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys was on 15%, with 21% of votes cast spoiled.

Jim Gavin, who pulled out of the race three weeks ago and is from the area, was on 7%.

Counting begins at Adamstown count centre in Dublin. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA Wire

Local Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Broin said the scale of the vote for Ms Connolly was “very, very significant”.

“A huge Catherine Connolly vote here, an absolute collapse not just of the Fianna Fail vote – and that was to be expected – but of the Fine Gael vote as well.

“Really remarkable in a constituency where Fine Gael used to have two TDs and currently have a sitting junior minister. An absolute collapse.

“And then of course there is a significant number of spoils, you can’t deny that. And what it tells us is there are people out there who are very angry, who are very unhappy.

“Our job in the time ahead is to try and convince more of those people that there is an alternative, there is a message of hope, and we hear the fact that they are not happy. So there is a job of work to do afterwards.”

11.55pm: Fine Gael TD in Cavan-Monaghan David Maxwell said that Ms Humphreys was on track to win the vote in her old constituency.

Speaking on RTÉ, he said that the party needed to "get back to our core values” — in a dig at Fine Gael leadership — as he argued that the party "didn’t look after our core vote in the budget", which he described as the "people who get up early in the morning."

Fine Gael's David Maxwell tells RTÉ that the party "needs to get back to our core values"

He states that the budget did "nothing for our core vote" or "people who get up early in the morning" 👀

— Louise Burne (@louiseburne_) October 25, 2025

11.45pm: Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has revealed he spoiled his vote for the presidential election.

Speaking to reporters at the RDS Simmonscourt count centre, Mr Tóibín said: “I’m going to be brutally honest with you, and I feel weird even saying this, I spoiled my vote yesterday.” 

Mr Tóibín said he drew three Xs beside the candidates and wrote in the name of Maria Steen instead.

He said: “I felt really strange doing it, I felt in some way that it was nearly wrong doing it, but I had no choice in that ballot yesterday at all.

“I had no way to exercise a political choice and I wanted to protest that.” 

Maria Steen / Conor McGregor written on ballot papers. Picture: Larry Cummins

Mr Tóibín said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael engineered an “absence of political choice” which led to spoiled presidential ballots, Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín said.

Asked if he had undermined democracy by spoiling his own voting paper, Mr Tóibín said: “Political choice is the essence of democracy.

“The engineers of the absence of that political choice were Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and as a result they have led to what happened yesterday.” 

He said those parties had blocked other candidates from entering the race for “narrow political reasons”.

Mr Tóibín said the high amount of spoiled votes and low turnout meant there was a “major element of Irish society who felt they had no voice in the race”.

He added: “In some constituencies those spoiled votes pushed Heather Humphreys back into third place, that is a major two fingers to the political establishment.” 

Mr Tóibín also congratulated independent candidate Catherine Connolly ahead of her expected victory.

11.30am: Fine Gael General Secretary John Carroll conceded that Heather Humphreys had lost the election and Catherine Connoly had won.

Speaking on RTÉ, he predicted that Ms Connolly would receive over 60% of the votes, while Ms Humphreys would finish in the late 20% or early 30% range.

Mr Carroll denied that there had been any “smear campaign” and that nothing Fine Gael had said about Ms Connolly had been slanderous or untrue.

On RTE, Fine Gael’s General Secretary John Carroll has conceded that Catherine Connolly has won the presidential election over Heather Humphreys

He also denies that there was a FG “smear campaign” arguing that there was nothing “slanderous or untrue”

— Louise Burne (@louiseburne_) October 25, 2025

11am: A man has been arrested by gardaí investigating an alleged assault on two women during canvassing for Catherine Connolly in north Dublin.

The alleged assault occurred in North Strand Road as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald joined the canvass.

A video posted online appears to show a man approaching a canvass team for Ms Connolly and shouting threats to “deck” and “slap” some of them.

On Saturday, gardaí said they had arrested a man in his 30s.

A garda spokesperson said: “Investigations are ongoing.”

10.30am: There is already anger within Fine Gael about the expected outcome. Some members are suggesting a major shake-up at Fine Gael headquarters, including the removal of General Secretary John Carroll, who has held the role since 2020.

One Fine Gael parliamentary party member described Mr Carroll as “useless.”

Members are also questioning Tánaiste Simon Harris’s role in the campaign, with differing opinions on the security of his party leadership.

The party has privately conceded defeat in the presidential election, admitting that it “wasn’t the election we were expecting,” and noting that original candidate Mairead McGuinness withdrew.

Some in Fine Gael are placing the blame on Fianna Fáil. One source said there was an agreement that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would have “viable” candidates so that one could support the other’s nominee.

Another argued that Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin staying in the race would have encouraged more “middle Ireland” voters to turn out.

Tallymen watch the ballot papers (Votes) which are starting to be counted at the RDS in Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

It is not all doom and gloom in Fine Gael, however. One party member joked that Ms Humphreys was ‘going to romp home’ in their constituency.

“I’m obviously joking,” they texted back several minutes later. “She is going to get hammered.”

Within Fine Gael, the recriminations have already begun as Catherine Connolly appears poised for a landslide victory over Heather Humphreys.

Fine Gael TDs and Senators are privately calling for a “clear-out” of party headquarters, directing particular anger at Secretary General John Carroll.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan has also faced criticism, with one party source saying he needs to “take responsibility” for Ms Humphreys’ loss.

“He was the one leading the talk about how amazing Heather is,” they said.

10.15am: People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the public has delivered a “historic rejection of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and a victory for the left.”

“This is a vote for the values she represents — defending neutrality, opposing war and genocide, and ending the normalisation of homelessness and inequality,” Mr Murphy said.

He urged left-wing parties to sustain the “mass movement” built around Ms Connolly.

Spoiled vote for Maria Steen. Picture: Larry Cummins

“There is a lesson for all of the left - if we unite and mobilise people, we can win. For People Before Profit, we want to continue this cooperation on issues like neutrality, Palestine, housing and cost of living, as well as looking towards the next general election,” Mr Murphy said.

“People need to be offered a very clear choice - continuation of the over 100 year rule of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, or the first left government in the history of the state.”

10.10am: Catherine Connolly has said she is “absolutely delighted” with early tallies indicating she will become the next president of Ireland.

Speaking to reporters in Galway, Ms Connolly said: “I am absolutely delighted with the result and I want to thank all my supporters.

“Actually, I want to thank everybody – even those who did not vote for me.

“I understand their concerns in relation to who will represent them best.”

Catherine Connolly arrives at the count centre in Galway West#Aras25 pic.twitter.com/0sBlRDr2He

— Connolly HQ (@Connolly_HQ) October 25, 2025

10am:

Early tallies this morning are showing an unusually high number of spoiled votes across the country — in some boxes even outnumbering support for Heather Humphreys.

Messages and slogans on spoiled ballots range from “Enoch Burke for President” and “Maria Steen” to anti-migration comments and references to recent news events. Others have taken a lighter approach, with votes cast for Brad Pitt and Dustin the Turkey.

In Dublin’s inner city, spoiled votes are running second only to Catherine Connolly’s tally, while in Limerick, three miraculous medals have even been found in a ballot box — an election-day tradition of sorts.

The high volume of invalid votes is expected to delay the final result later this evening.

In years past, there'd be a hardy veteran political operative arguing that's a vote for Humphreys. https://t.co/UEL7gBIbd2

— Paul Hosford (@PTHosford) October 25, 2025

9.45am: Fine Gael minister Peter Burke has effectively conceded defeat, acknowledging that Catherine Connolly is set to become the 10th President of Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Burke said Ms Connolly would receive “the support of all the political system.”

Asked why Fine Gael’s candidate, Heather Humphreys, failed to win, Mr Burke said it was “very hard to determine why things happen.”

“It was a very difficult election, it’s a two horse race. It was an election of so many unprecedented events, obviously in relation to a small field and withdrawal of Jim Gavin,” he said.

Mr Burke said Fine Gael will conduct an internal review of the election.

Meanwhile, in Dublin’s inner city, a significant number of spoiled votes have been recorded, placing them second only to Ms Connolly’s tally.

Ms Humphreys is trailing in a distant third place.

9am: Tallies should give us an idea by mid-morning whether there is indeed a clear win for independent Catherine Connolly, but a first count result won't come until this evening.

James Seymour, the returning officer for Co Tipperary, explains the next steps in the process.

"We literally sort through and just check that the number of ballots in each box match up to what the number of ballot papers that were issued, and that's called a balancing and verification," he said.

"Once that is done, we then commence to start counting the first preference votes.

"And once we have all the first preference votes counted, we send a result of that to the presidential returning officer Barry Ryan in Dublin Castle."

A ballot box is emptied as counting begins at the Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

8.45am: In Tipperary, one polling station served up democracy with a side of home baking.

At the O’Donovan family home in Coolmoyne, around 250 locals were eligible to cast their vote — and enjoyed a cuppa and a slice of apple or rhubarb tart afterwards.

The front sitting room was transformed into a polling station for the day, with furniture cleared out to make space for ballot boxes and voting booths.

Running the show are Mr O’Donovan’s daughter Aisling and neighbour Monica, who are among the official polling staff.

Once voters made their mark, they could either head on their way or pop into the kitchen for tea, coffee, or a scone — a sweet reminder of the community spirit that often defines election day in rural Ireland.

8.30am:

Gardaí are investigating an incident where two women were allegedly assaulted by a man during a canvass in north inner city Dublin.

Video circulating on social media shows a man repeatedly threatening and verbally abusing Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and a group of canvassers for Independent presidential election candidate Catherine Connolly.

In it, the man repeatedly threatens to hit Ms McDonald and several others involved in the canvass.

Gardaí confirmed they responded to a report of assault on two women on the North Strand Road in Dublin 1. They said the incident occurred shortly before 4pm on Friday.

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly. Picture:Karlis Dzjamko

8.15am: MEP Sean Kelly criticised the process which saw Heather Humphreys selected as a candidate.

Mr Kelly said the campaign got off to a “bad start”, adding that it was a mistake not to allow a contest to take place between himself and Ms Humphreys.

“I think most people would have welcomed a contest and then whoever would win would go forward and we’d all unite behind them,” he said.