Ireland’s presidential election reached a pivotal moment on Saturday as vote counting commenced, with early indications pointing to a substantial lead for independent left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly. The election, which saw voters choosing between Connolly and center-right contender Heather Humphreys, is set to determine the country’s next president—a role that, while largely ceremonial, holds significant constitutional importance within the European Union member state. The race narrowed to these two candidates after Jim Gavin, the nominee from Prime Minister Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil party, withdrew three weeks prior due to a past financial dispute. Despite Gavin’s exit, his name remained on the ballot due to the timing of his withdrawal. Connolly, a 68-year-old former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, has gained support from several left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, and the Social Democrats. Known for her vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Connolly has emerged as the frontrunner, outpacing Humphreys, a 64-year-old former cabinet minister from the center-right Fine Gael party, who has positioned herself as a pro-business, pro-EU unity candidate. The election also saw potential candidacies from figures like musician Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, though neither secured sufficient backing to enter the race. The winner will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who has served the maximum two seven-year terms since 2011, becoming Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the office. As votes were counted manually across the country’s 43 electoral constituencies, the final result was expected to be announced later on Saturday.
Early tallies suggest Catherine Connolly is leading candidate in Ireland’s presidential election
