Catherine Connolly has been elected as the president of Ireland after a landslide victory.
She has become the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland after defeating Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who had already conceded to her rival.
The result, long clear from early tallies, was officially declared at Dublin Castle.
Connolly – an independent who was backed by the major left-wing parties – is taking over from Michael D Higgins who served the maximum two terms in office.
The 68-year-old, from Galway, has been a TD (member of the Irish parliament) since 2016 and previously worked as a psychologist and barrister.
She secured 914,143 first preference votes, the largest amount in Irish presidential election history.
Connolly, who made her acceptance speech first in Irish and then in English, pledged to be “an inclusive president for all”.
“I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary,” she said.
“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.”
