2025 Presidential Election in Türkiye

The 2025 Irish Presidential Election was held on 24 October 2025 to elect the country’s 10th president. The election was won by left-leaning independent candidate Catherine Connolly, who received 63.4 percent of the vote. Connolly, the third woman ever elected president in Irish history, will assume office on 11 November 2025 from Michael D. Higgins.

Ireland’s new president Catherine Connolly, 25 October 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Candidates

Catherine Connolly

Catherine Connolly, aged 68, is an independent politician and former clinical psychologist. She has served as an independent member of parliament since 2016 and previously held the position of deputy speaker of the house. A prominent figure on the left wing of Irish politics, Connolly is known for her advocacy of social justice, housing and welfare policies, environmental protection, and peaceful reunification.

During the campaign, she frequently emphasized the theme of a “United Ireland,” arguing for closer ties with those living in the north of the island. She also drew attention for her support of Palestine, openly criticizing Israeli policies in the context of the war in Gaza. Connolly received endorsements from left-leaning parties including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, and the Social Democrats.

Heather Humphreys

Heather Humphreys is the candidate of Fine Gael, the governing coalition’s partner party. She is 64 years old. Born in Monaghan, Humphreys is Protestant, unlike the majority Catholic population of Ireland. In her campaign, she adopted a cautious stance on the idea of a united Ireland, stressing the necessity of building a “unified people” before any political unification could occur.

Jim Gavin

Jim Gavin, the candidate of Fianna Fáil, withdrew from the race early in the campaign. A former Gaelic football coach, Gavin stepped down after allegations surfaced that he had charged his tenant more than the legal rent limit. Because his withdrawal occurred after the official list of candidates had been finalized, his name remained on the ballot.

Election Process and Participation

Voting

The Irish Presidential Election took place on 24 October 2025. Voting began at 07:00 local time and ended at 22:00. Across the country, 3.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at 5,500 polling stations. This election marked the tenth presidential election held under the constitution, which mandates such elections every seven years and establishes the president as directly elected by the people.

Ireland’s President Higgins voting at a polling station for the presidential election, 24 October 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Irish presidential elections are conducted using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. Under this method, voters rank candidates in order of preference using numbers such as “1, 2, 3.” Candidates who fail to achieve a sufficient majority in the first preference count have their votes redistributed according to voters’ subsequent preferences. The election results were calculated using this system.

Three candidates appeared on the ballot: independent left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin. However, Gavin withdrew after the official candidate list was finalized. Nonetheless, under legal procedures, his name remained on the ballot, and votes cast for him were counted and redistributed according to voters’ ranked preferences.

The vote count began at 09:00 local time on 25 October. Counting was conducted simultaneously across 43 electoral regions throughout the country, with Dublin as the central hub. The Electoral Commission announced that official results would be published on the same evening after all counts were completed.

Voter Turnout

Voter turnout varied significantly by region across Ireland. In the capital Dublin, approximately 40 percent of voters participated; in Cork, the figure was 30 percent. In some rural areas, turnout remained as low as 20 percent. The overall average turnout was lower than in previous presidential elections. According to provisional data released by the Electoral Commission, the rate of invalid votes exceeded 10 percent in some regions.

The election also saw a significant surge in participation from first-time voters. According to an Anadolu Ajansı report, tens of thousands of citizens voted for the first time. Early counts following the closure of polling stations indicated that Connolly held a nationwide lead. In particular, she received approximately two-thirds of first-preference votes in regions such as Galway, Donegal, Clare, Meath, and Waterford. She secured 75 percent of the vote in Donegal and 59 percent in Waterford.

Irish Presidential Election, 25 October 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Results and Vote Distribution

The official results of the Irish Presidential Election were announced on the evening of 25 October 2025. According to data from the Electoral Commission, independent left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly won the election with 63.4 percent of the vote. Heather Humphreys, candidate of Fine Gael, received 29.5 percent. Jim Gavin, candidate of Fianna Fáil, despite having withdrawn from the race, remained on the ballot and received 7.2 percent of the vote.

Ireland’s new president Catherine Connolly, 25 October 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

2025 Irish Presidential Election – Official Results

Following the announcement of the results, Connolly was formally declared president at a ceremony held at Dublin Castle. In her speech, she stated, “I will be a president who listens, thinks, and speaks when necessary,” adding, “Together we can shape a new republic that honors everyone’s values.”

According to the election results, Connolly is Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman ever elected to the office. Ireland previously had two female presidents: Mary Robinson, elected in 1990, and Mary McAleese, who served from 1997 to 2011. Connolly’s election marks the resumption of this tradition after a 14-year gap.

Following the announcement of the official results, government leaders congratulated the new president. Prime Minister Micheál Martin, in a social media statement, noted that Connolly had run a “successful and effective campaign” and had won “clear legitimacy to represent the Irish people.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also congratulated Connolly, saying, “She will be the president of this country and of all of us. Her success will be Ireland’s success.”

It was announced that Connolly will assume the presidency from Michael D. Higgins in an official ceremony on 11 November 2025. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Áras an Uachtaráin, the Presidential Palace.