Ireland votes as Catherine Connolly heads for presidential landslide
3 Min Read
Irish voters head to the polls as left-wing independent Catherine Connolly leads Heather Humphreys in a presidential race seen as a rebuke to the government.
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Irish Presidential Candidate Catherine Connolly at the Galway Bay Hotel during a rally in Galway, Ireland, October 24, 2025. (Catherine Connolly/ Instagram)
Irish voters are casting their ballots today in a presidential election widely expected to deliver a decisive victory for left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly, who has surged ahead in opinion polls amid growing discontent with the ruling coalition.
The latest survey published Thursday showed Connolly, 68, leading with 40% support compared to 25% for her rival, former cabinet minister Heather Humphreys. When adjusted for undecided voters and those planning to spoil their ballots, Connolly’s lead widened to 55% against Humphreys’ 35%.
Two earlier polls this week also gave Connolly a strong advantage in the race to succeed Michael D. Higgins, who has completed two seven-year terms as Ireland’s president.
A symbolic but politically charged election
Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, a victory for Connolly, a Galway-based parliamentarian and Irish-speaking former psychologist and barrister, would mark a major rebuke to Ireland’s center-right government. It would also signal a triumph for an alliance of opposition leftwing parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Greens, who jointly rallied behind her candidacy.
Connolly has attracted younger voters with her outspoken criticism of Western militarism and calls to protect Irish neutrality. She has compared Germany’s military spending to the Nazi era and accused the US and UK of enabling genocide in Gaza.
Her campaign, amplified by viral podcasts and social media endorsements from artists and musicians such as Kneecap and the Mary Wallopers, has transformed her from a marginal figure into a political force.
Government under pressure amid low voter enthusiasm
Despite Connolly’s commanding lead, almost half of respondents told pollsters they did not feel represented by either candidate, raising fears of low voter turnout and a high rate of spoiled ballots.
Heather Humphreys, 62, of the ruling Fine Gael party, has struggled to connect with voters amid widespread anger over the housing crisis and cost-of-living pressures. Her campaign was further weakened by lackluster debate performances and her association with an unpopular government.
The race was effectively narrowed to two candidates after nomination rules and a series of political blunders sidelined other hopefuls. Celebrity figures such as Bob Geldof, Michael Flatley, and Conor McGregor failed to secure the required nominations, while Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin withdrew following a financial scandal.
Connolly pledges restraint but vows to speak for ordinary people
Connolly has promised to respect the constitutional limits of the presidency if elected, while supporters hope she will continue to raise issues such as housing shortages, hospital waiting lists, and Ireland’s foreign policy stance.
“I am absolutely not taking it for granted, absolutely not,” she told reporters while canvassing in Galway on Thursday. “It will be an absolute privilege if the people of Ireland elect me when they cast their vote.”
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. The final result is expected on Saturday, with 3.6 million citizens eligible to vote.
If confirmed, Connolly’s victory would make her Ireland’s 10th president and its fourth consecutive head of state to use the office as a platform for ethical and progressive politics, following in the footsteps of Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese, and Michael D. Higgins.
