Catherine Connolly: Who is Ireland's new president? 

Catherine Connolly will be Ireland's 10th president after a massive victory over Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin

The Independent Galway TD described the decision to run as "torturous," but said she could not ignore those around her urging her to do so. Picture: Ray Ryan

When she is sworn in as President of Ireland next month, Catherine Connolly will crown a political career that began nearly 30 years ago in her native Galway.

The 68-year-old mother of two, who lives in Claddagh, is an Irish speaker who grew up one of 14 siblings — seven boys and seven girls, five of whom were younger than her — in Shantalla.